Cruise Adviser – December 2019

R E Y K JAV Ă? K | Y E A R I N R E V I E W | H O W TO S E L L : H O N E Y M OO N S

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

D E C E M B E R 2019

Ice cold in Antarctica

Sam Ballard and Anthony Pearce join Aurora Expeditions for the trip of a lifetime

THE KIMBERLEY

For true explorers

The Kimberley is a vast and rugged coastline shaped by the powerful forces of nature. Steeped in ancient cultures, it is one of the world’s most beautiful and remote wilderness areas.

Explore the best of the Kimberley with the Australian pioneers. Experience diverse wildlife, striking landscapes, rich history and ancient aboriginal cultures. Our expert guides and crew will share their unsurpassed knowledge and passion for this region forged from 24 years of expedition experience in the Kimberley. Come back after your adventures to your Australian-flagged ship and enjoy expansive public spaces, comfortable staterooms and regionally-inspired cuisine with Australian wines.

If you are curious about the world around you, and freedom from the crowds is your idea of luxury, Coral Expeditions is your cruise line. For 34 years, we have taken like-minded guests closer to remote cultures and nature, with personal service and warm Australian hospitality.

10 Nights > Departs Darwin and Broome April to September 2020 and 2021

REQUEST YOUR BROCHURE call +44 (0) 203 934 7170 visit www.coralexpeditions.com email explore@coralexpeditions.com

December 2019 | Forward EDITOR’S LETTER

Cruise opens up the white continent CRUISE ADVISER

Antarctica is a destination like no other: a pristine wilderness virtually unspoilt by humans where the most incredible abundance of wildlife roams. Its inaccessibility only adds to its intrigue: reaching the Antarctic continent requires a two-day sailing across the notorious Drake Passage from Ushuaia, the Argentinian city on the tip of South America. We were lucky enough to experience Ice cold in its landscapes draped in snow, sail through its channels Antarctica crowded with icebergs and witness chinstrap penguins, grey-headed albatrosses, Weddell seals and humpback whales, to name just a few, in their natural habit, on board Aurora Expeditions’ new ship, the Greg Mortimer. The first to feature the revolutionary X-Bow technology, this vessel has been designed for polar exploration – delivering guests to the end of the Earth in a way that combines comfort with true adventure. You can read Sam Ballard’s glowing review and see Anthony Pearce’s pictures taken during the trip on p32. It’s a difficult job, but somebody has to do it.

Elsewhere in this issue, Jane Archer provides a guide to honeymoon cruises in our regular How to Sell guide (p41) and also joins MSC Grandiosa as it launches in Southampton (p12); Emily Eastman takes a closer look at Norwegian Encore, the latest Breakaway Plus-class ship (p16), plus joins Clia in Amsterdam for the River Conference (p28). We’ve also got all the latest news, new hires and incentives (starting p9). We hope you enjoy reading.

THIS MONTH WHAT WE LEARNT

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R E Y K JAV Í K | Y E A R I N R E V I E W | H O W TO S E L L : H O N E Y M OO N S

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

DECEMBER 2019

DECEMBER 2019 CA-42

Sam Ballard and Anthony Pearce join Aurora Expeditions for the trip of a lifetime

DENNIS THE MENACE LOVES ROYAL CARIBBEAN The classic comic character and his family feature in a new strip specially commissioned by the line P20

ICELAND IS THE WORLD’S YOUNGEST COUNTRY Geologically speaking, of course. The landmass was only formed a mere 25 million years ago P32

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PENGUINS LIKE TO POO… A LOT If you visit Antarctica late in the season careful where you tread – the pink poo known as guano is everywhere

Sam Ballard and Anthony Pearce head to Antarctica with Aurora Expeditions (p32)

Contents MIDSHIP 24

28

The year in review Anthony Pearce looks back over an eventful 12 months for the cruise industry, from new ship launches to the demise of Thomas Cook Clia River Cruise Conference Emily Eastman reports from Amsterdam, where the focus

was on the next generation of cruisers and working towards a sustainable future 32

To the ends of the Earth Sam Ballard reports on the trip of a lifetime to Antarctica on Aurora Expeditions’ new ship Greg Mortimer, where each day brought new

opportunities to spot wildlife and have new experiences.

Anthony Pearce’s photos accompany the piece 45

How to sell: honeymoons Jane Archer’s guide to cruises for newlyweds Turn over for more CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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GET POLARISED EXPEDITIONS

LET US TAKE YOU CLOSER TO THE AUTHENTIC BEAUTY OF THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA.

Your clients can explore the unspoiled landscapes of Antarctica on an extraordinary voyage with all the comforts they love. Aided by a team of world-class experts, our ultra-luxury, all-inclusive ships are modern gems of design, excelling in both ďŹ ne living and exploration.

For more information or for reservations please call 0207 340 0700, visit silversea.com or email salesuk@silversea.com.

FORWARD 3

Editor’s letter

9

News CMV acquires two new ships; Virgin shares details of its second vessel; Royal Caribbean is immortalised in a Beano comic strip; MSC Grandiosa pays a visit to Southampton

14

New hires A round-up of the latest industry appointments

15

Incentives The latest trade initiatives

16

New ship Emily Eastman tries out Norwegian Encore – the fourth and final member of NCL’s Breakaway Plus class

20

Ports of call: Reykjavík Jane Archer profiles the Icelandic capital, which is an increasingly popular cruise destination

Above: a look at Norwegian Encore (p16) and a profile of the Icelandic capital Reyjkavík (p22)

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Directory All the cruise line contact details in one place

52

Lookout Photos from Saga’s National Contact Centre Awards

50

Know your… seasickness ‘cures’

54

Final word Sam Ballard looks at how travel agents can change lives

51

Gamesroom Try your hand at our crossword or sudoku

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

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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Experience

THE MOST UNIQUE CORNER OF THE WORLD Meet Celebrity FloraSM, a visionary new ship purposedesigned for exploring the remote Galapagos Islands.

Carrying just 100 guests in all-inclusive luxury on a choice of 7-night itineraries, the all-suites accommodation are among the most spacious in these waters, while menus crafted by a Michelin-starred chef ensure gourmet dining in venues to match. Daily expeditions on custom-built zodiacs are led by expert onboard naturalists, and it’s no surprise Flora boasts cutting edge technology to preserve this magical eco-system for future generations. There’s no better way to experience the Galapagos — a place where evolution meets revolution.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CELEBRITY FLORA & THE GALAPAGOS, VISIT: CELEBRITYCENTRAL.CO.UK

486

©2019 Celebrity Cruises. Ship’s registry: Ecuador.

Alaska, by Cunard.

Breathtaking scenic voyages, immersive Alaska experiences and unforgettable Cunard style.

Stateroom upgrades available on Alaska voyages until 31 December 2019.

Example below based on Alaska Roundtrip Q017.

Stateroom chosen

Stateroom paid for

Cunard Fare

Additional money to spend on board

Oceanview

Inside

ÂŁ2,249pp

$140pp

Flights and transfers are included in the Cunard Fare.

Remember, you’ll earn Shine points with every Cunard Fare booking you make. Redeem them on a host of rewards - from electronics and beauty products through to experience days and even Cunard cruises.

Visit shinerewardsclub.com to find out more.

Stateroom upgrades applicable on new Cunard Fare bookings made between 1st May 2019 - 31st Dec 2019 on selected voyages, subject to availability.

NEWS

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

CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES

CMV adds two new ships to its fleet for 2021 The two new arrivals will increase the ex-UK specialists’ capacity by 30 per cent, enabling them to “service increasing market demand” as bookings go up Cruise & Maritime Voyages is to add two new ships to its fleet for 2021.

P&O Australia’s Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria will join the CMV fleet on March 2 and May 2, 2021 respectively. The move increases CMV’s capacity by 30 per cent.

Pacific Dawn carries a maximum of 1,400 passengers across 798 cabins while Pacific Aria has 630 cabins and will carry 1,100 passengers.

Pacific Aria will be deployed to CMV’s German brand, while Pacific Dawn will be deployed to the UK. Meanwhile, the Astor is to be redeployed to the French market.

Christian Verhounig, CEO and chairman of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, said: “The introduction of two more ships to the global ocean fleet is the next exciting chapter of our strategic growth objectives. This will

enable us to service increasing market demand for our traditional brand of cruising generated by our expanding international network of in-house sales offices and developing source markets. We have now acquired five cruise ships in just five years and are firmly on course to carrying 200,000 passengers in 2021.”

The new ship names will be unveiled later this month and will follow CMV’s explorer theme.

Chris Coates, group commercial director added: “As the CMV brand continues to evolve, the growing popularity of our traditional product, classic ships and destination focused cruise programs has encouraged us to accelerate plans to add capacity to the two top European cruise markets in the UK and Germany, which represent 85 per cent of our business.

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“These two fine cruise ships perfectly complement our existing fleet providing trade partners and consumers alike with much needed extra capacity.”

Speaking to cruise adviser, Lisa Jacobs, head of trade sales & groups, said: “Thanks to the unwavering support of our trade partners, CMV has had another very successful year and we expect to be 70 per cent sold for 2020 by the end of this year.

Clearly there is strong consumer demand for our cruise product and therefore the need to increase capacity for 2021. We believe that this presents some very exciting opportunities for our trade partners as we grow our range of cruising holidays and regional departures.”

The 2021 summer programs will go on sale via the trade in early 2020.

December 2019 | Forward VIRGIN VOYAGES

Second ship Valiant Lady set to debut in 2021 Virgin Voyages has announced its second ship, Valiant Lady, which is set to debut in May 2021.

The ship, which follows the line’s inaugural vessel, Scarlet Lady, will sail seven-night Mediterranean itineraries out of Barcelona, Spain.

Bookings for the three feature itineraries – all offering overnight and late-night dockings at popular destinations in France, Italy and Spain – will open on December 19.

Every sailing also includes a Friday overnight stay in Ibiza, offering an opportunity to enjoy the nightlife for which the island is famed.

Tom McAlpin, Virgin Voyages’ CEO, said: “We are thrilled to unveil the name of our second ship – Valiant Lady – and to deliver on our commitment to offer travellers a sea change in how they can experience cruising in this part of the world.”

FRED OLSEN

HOLLAND AMERICA

NICKO CRUISES

Three ships to undergo multi-million pound refit

Keel laying celebration for the new Ryndam

UK representative appointed by Nicko

Three of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ ocean ships will be undergoing a multi-million-Pound refit this Winter, as part of an extensive enhancement programme – in preparation for the start of the 2020/21 cruise season.

Braemar, Balmoral and Black Watch will be undergoing various works, general maintenance and refurbishment at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.

Peter Deer, managing director of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We are very proud of our smaller, classic cruise ships and we recognise the importance of investing in ongoing upgrades to ensure that our guests can continue to enjoy them at their very best.”

Holland America Line celebrated the keel laying of its new ship Ryndam at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy last month.

The 2,668-passenger vessel will be the third in the line’s popular Pinnacle Class and is scheduled for delivery in May 2021.

“The keel laying is an important construction milestone because it marks the moment when we can really start to watch the ship take shape and progress toward its launch in 18 months,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “Adding Ryndam to our fleet will provide a new canvas for us to share our brand and enable us to show the world to even more cruisers.”

Nicko Cruises, the German river cruise company, has appointed Light Blue Travel as its UK representative for both trade and direct sales.

The Cambridge based company – which also works with the American Queen Steamboat Company, among others – will be responsible for selling European departures on Nicko Cruises’ international sailings on the Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Seine, Elbe and Douro rivers.

Light Blue Travel’s managing director Rupert Thomson said: “I am hugely impressed by Nicko Cruises’ product and portfolio and with the unabated popularity of river cruising I see great potential for growth in the UK market.”

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December 2019 | Forward

Royal Caribbean has commissioned a unique Beano cartoon to celebrate the $165m makeover of Allure of the Seas.

The comic strip – which will feature in a brand new Family Pack given to children ahead of their cruise – sees the notorious mischief-maker Dennis the Menace, along with his side-kick Gnasher and family Minnie, toddler Bea and mum and dad, become the first guests onboard the new-look ship.

It even features Ben Bouldin, associate vice president and managing director, UK & Ireland, who said: “Allure of the Seas will offer the ultimate family-fun adventure when she sails from Barcelona next summer, so we wanted Britain’s most iconic family to test out everything it has to offer.”

CRYSTAL CRUISES

GREAT LAKES

CELEBRITY CRUISES

New Ocean Getaways announced for 2020

Jane McDonald boards small ship Victory II

New ‘Sail Your Way’ campaign launched

Crystal Cruises has added 10 new voyages to its collection of Crystal Getaways – shortened versions of the luxury line’s longer itineraries, ranging from four to 10 nights.

New Getaways include: Timeless Treasures & Ancient Cultures (from Singapore to Colombo); Empires of Past & Present (from Mumbai to Aqaba); Icons of the Mediterranean (from Monte Carlo to Sorrento).

The small ship M/V Victory II, as represented in the UK by Light Blue Travel, featured in new series of Cruising with Jane McDonald.

The programme featured the tenday Great Lakes and French Canada cruise from Detroit to Montreal, taking in a visit to Niagara Falls.

Lake Michigan features in the Destinations To Watch list in Abta’s 2020 Travel Trends report.

Celebrity Cruises has launched Sail Your Way, a new campaign that enables guests to tailor their cruise experience by choosing from a selection of onboard benefits.

All guests – from Inside to AquaClass staterooms – can now choose from onboard credit, drinks packages, wi-fi and gratuities in three simplified packages: Sail All Included, Sail Plus and Sail.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

The Menaces test out Allure Of The Seas

© Beano Studios Limited

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© Beano Studios Limited

December 2019 | Forward

MSC CRUISES

MSC back in Southampton with Grandiosa The line eyes “more adventurous” British travellers as its latest new ship calls at the south coast port following its naming ceremony. Jane Archer reports In what has to be a first, MSC Cruises has celebrated the launch of not one but two new ships in Southampton within just nine months.

In March, MSC Bellissima was christened in the south coast port. In November MSC Grandiosa called in on its way to the Med following its gala naming ceremony in Hamburg.

It was supposed to stay one night but bad weather in the Bay of Biscay forced the line to change its plans and MSC Grandiosa remained in the port for another two days.

“Southampton is now linked with MSC Cruises. We will always be here,” pledged chief executive officer Gianni Onorato as the city and cruise line exchanged plaques to celebrate the ship’s visit.

Some 550 UK and Ireland retailers – a mix of MSC’s topperforming agents and others new to the line – were invited to an overnight stay on MSC Grandiosa during its Southampton call.

“We saw a spike in bookings after MSC Bellissima and I expect it again after agents have seen MSC Grandiosa,” said UK & Ireland managing director Antonio Paradiso.

“I believe British travellers are becoming more adventurous and prepared to try something different.”

MSC is targeting three million global passengers in 2020 and 5.5 million in 2027, by which time the line will have added another 12 ships to its fleet.

In 2021, a newly-stretched and restyled MSC Magnifica will be offering 24 ex-UK departures from Southampton between May and October. Paradiso said: “MSC Magnifica offers a great opportunity for agents and Southampton. As partners we can grow together.”

MSC Grandiosa is certainly grand.

Some 15 metres longer than MSC Bellissima, it holds just over 6,300 passengers and is adorned with sparkling Swarovski staircases, acres

of shiny décor and mirrored surfaces and facsimiles of great masters by the likes of Raffaello and Caravaggio with an MSC ship added.

As on MSC Bellissima, there’s an exclusive suite-only Yacht Club with 24-hour butler service, a private restaurant, sunbathing deck and pool, extensive inside and outdoor play areas for kids and teens with virtual reality games and water slides and a virtual personal assistant called Zoe in all the cabins.

Round-the-world dining options include a Spanish tapas bar, Japanese teppanyaki, US-style steakhouse and an expanded French L’Atelier Bistrot restaurant, now with its own lounge and larger bar.

Among new features, there’s a fifth main dining room, Il Campo, mainly for passengers who have paid for the Aurea Experience, and instead of selecting up or down on the lifts, you now select the deck you want, which was much more efficient.

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December 2019 | Forward

OPINION

ABTA TRAVEL TRENDS

Something different for a new decade Janet Parton, sales director, Avalon Waterways

When most people initially think of cruise ports and destinations, it’s likely to be the far-flung waters of the Caribbean or the iconic cities and islands of the Mediterranean, that first come to mind. However, the world is now more easily accessible than ever, and customers continually want to see and experience something different. They may also want ports of call that are less crowded and lesser known. Cruise lines plan their itineraries years in advance to ensure passengers are provided with a wealth of options, from brand new destinations to a refreshing twist on the classics. Here’s a taste of something different for 2020: Tokyo, Japan Fast becoming a global sports hub, Japan will follow up the hosting of the 2019 Rugby World Cup with the 2020 Olympics. It is a destination that is now firmly on the customers’ mind. During 2020, there are several cruise lines that will have departures from Tokyo including Princess, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. This gives customers a great opportunity to experience the diverse sights of Japan and the Far East.

Cambodia and Vietnam An evergreen destination for backpackers, Southeast Asia is an explorer’s treasure trove but it is also possible to uncover these ancient lands in modern luxury. Avalon Waterways offer two ships on the Mekong in 2020. Not only is this great for more experienced cruisers who

Demands for river and sustainability dominate report

have seen the sights of Europe, it is also fantastic for honeymooners or guests looking for an extension to a holiday in the Far East.

Canadian Rockies, Canada and Alaska The Canadian Rockies are home to vast forests and opaque lakes of emerald green, not to mention the towering glaciers of white ice and snow. Why not twin a Canadian Rockies tour with an Alaskan Cruise?

Cosmos Tours have several itineraries available for 2020 with Holland America Line.

Sir Bani Yas, United Arab Emirates Just off the coast of Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas is packed full of the grandeur of the Middle East’s landscapes and wildlife. Dedicated as a nature preserve in the 1970s, the island revolves around outdoor adventure.

Some of the cruise lines visiting Sir Bani Yas include MSC Cruises, Marella Cruises and Celebrity.

Washington, DC 2020 is election year in the US and now you can visit the capital on a cruise to take in the excitement and famous sights. Very few people would imagine they could visit Washington, DC via a cruise, but you can with American Cruise Lines. They are the first cruise line in over 60 years to dock in the city at The Wharf.

Of course, there are many destinations which are off the beaten track, but Antarctica, the Galápagos, Iceland, Seychelles, the Ganges and even the Amazon are all readily accessible on a cruise. Cruise lines visit all seven continents, so why not have a look at what else there is to offer other than classic itineraries?

I challenge you to inspire your customers with somewhere different in 2020… happy selling!

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Abta has launched its 2020 Travel Trends report and has predicted that demand for river cruises will continue to grow, as will the focus on sustainability, with customers more aware of the environmental impact of their holiday.

The report, which was released late last month, said that 32 per cent of people were interested in taking a river cruise with the fact that river cruises get “into the heart of a destination” identified as one of the main factors helping to attract people to the sector.

The report also pointed out how sustainability issues are now a mainstream concern and recognised that there is “an increasing appetite to understand the environmental impacts of travel and tourism.

Tourism can be a tremendous force for good, although impacts on destinations, their natural environment, economies and communities need to be managed”.

However, cruisers seeking greener trips have “plenty of options” to choose from. Royal Caribbean recently unveiled a sustainable tour programme, featuring 1,400 excursions across its Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara brands. The sustainable tours, all certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

The report also singles out Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Refill campaign and Intrepid’s ban on single-use plastics and use of locally sourced produce for praise.

December 2019 | Forward

NEW HIRES

Virgin Voyages promotes Shane Riley to associate VP

Scenic appoints new brand and marketing manager Tour operator and river cruise line Scenic has appointed Louise Mason as brand and marketing manager.

Mason joins from Specialist Leisure Group, where she was interim head of marketing for Shearings Holidays.

In the newly-created role at Scenic, she will report into marketing director Nichola Absalom, who said: “Louise is a real strategic thinker, but certainly isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in.”

Wendy Wu Tours expands its sales team

Virgin Voyages has promoted director of international sales Shane Riley to associate vice president of international sales.

He joined the new line in May 2018 from Carnival, where he was UK director of trade engagement.

In addition to being responsible for driving sales for Virgin Voyages, Riley has also been overseeing the launch of their online agent

platform FirstMates.com, recruited two UK-based sales managers and is organising an overnight stay for 1,000 UK agents on their first ship, Scarlet Lady, which launches in the spring.

Australia was added to Riley’s remit in August when he became director of international sales.

Scarlet Lady will be followed by Valiant Lady in 2021, with two more ships on order for delivery in 2023.

Travel specialists Wendy Wu Tours have announced four newly created roles in its sales team.

Caroline Rennie has been appointed as head of inside sales and specialist business; Sandra Foreman takes on the role of key account manager for Hays; Caroline Burroughs joins as trade support manager; Harry Ryan who joins as personal tailormade consultant.

All four are former Thomas Cook employees and will report to global sales director John Warr.

Celebrity Cruises to make history after announcing a sailing with an entirely female bridge and officer team to celebrate International Women’s Day Luxury line Celebrity Cruises is to make history after announcing the first ever sailing with an entirely female bridge and officer team.

Part of the line’s #BRIDGEthegap campaign, the sailing will take place on their award-winning ship Celebrity Edge on March 8, 2020, which is International Women’s Day. Captain Kate McCue, who made headlines when she became the first American female cruise ship captain in 2015, will be at the helm, accompanied by 26 other women to

create an all-female Bridge and officer leadership team, including British first officer Rachel Arnold, British cruise director Sue Denning and British guest relations director Jule Sherrington – as well as Celebrity’s president and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

“We are all passionate about closing the gender gap,” said LutoffPerlo. “Over the last few years, we have worked hard to diversify the crew on board and bring more women than ever into our industry. None of this could have been possible without

the leadership and shared vision of the extraordinary men and women I work with every day, led by Patrik Dahlgren and Brian Abel.”

Dahlgren, senior vice president of global marine operations for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, added: “Since 2015, we have raised the percentage of qualified women on our navigational bridges from three per cent to 22 per cent. We hope this will continue to grow; we just need more women to raise their hands for careers at sea, especially in engineering.”

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December 2019 | Forward

INCENTIVES

800 prizes up for grabs in Celebrity’s trade giveaway

Earn £50 per booking with Crystal Throughout December, luxury operator Crystal is offering agents the chance to earn £50 per booking.

The incentive is valid on all Spring 2020 sailings on Crystal’s ocean, river and yacht product, departing between April 1 and June 30, 2020.

Bookings must be made between December 1 and 31, 2019 and there is no limit to the number of bookings.

See crystalcruises.co.uk for more.

Silversea to host agents on Silver Moon in 2020

Celebrity Cruises has announced a new agent giveaway, which will see the luxury line giving away 800 prize and rewards to its trade partners.

The campaign is fronted by First Dates host Fred Sirieix (above) and will see the top 100 selling agents winning £500 worth of Celebrity Rewards points. Another 700 agents will also be in with the chance of

winning a selection of spot prizes including free cruises, restaurant vouchers, Celebrity Rewards points and bath robes and golf umbrellas.

To be in with a chance of winning, agents need to sell as many Celebrity holidays as possible before March 3, 2020. All bookings need to be registered on celebritycentral.co.uk to claim Celebrity Rewards points.

Luxury line Silversea will be hosting a fam trip for agents on its new ship Silver Moon next year.

Peter Shanks, managing director UK and Ireland, told TTG that agent partners will be flown to the shipyard in Trieste next August to experience the ultra-luxury vessel on a three-day cruise.

Shanks also renewed Silversea’s commitment to the trade and confirmed an ongoing ship visit and fam programme across the fleet, as well as a series of roadshows in the UK between March and April.

AmaWaterways launches its new online training programme AmaAcademy – and agents who complete the first course will be entered into a prize draw AmaWaterways has announced the launch of AmaAcademy, an interactive online training programme designed to help agents sell river cruise holidays.

AmaAcademy is an integral part of the AmaWaterways’ travel agent portal, which also provides access to a range of tools including an online booking engine and an expanded suite of marketing collateral, including a new social media toolkit.

Agents who successfully complete AmaAcademy’s first interactive course

will be entered in to a prize draw to win an AmaWaterways cruise for two in 2020. Agents have until Monday, December 16 to complete the training. Graduates also receive an AmaWaterways ‘Certified Agent’ certificate and qualify for reduced fam rates starting from £651 per person to experience an AmaWaterways river cruise. In addition, all new graduates who make a new booking within 90 days of completing the first course qualify to earn a £25 Love2Shop voucher.

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A spokesperson said: “We are excited to launch AmaAcademy, which offers our travel agent partners the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of AmaWaterways and provide the knowledge to develop their river cruise business. Not only can they learn at a time and location that suits their needs, but we are offering the ultimate in product training… a chance to experience one of our cruises for themselves.”

To sign up, visit the agent portal at amawaterways.co.uk.

December 2019 | Forward

NEW SHIP

A standing ovation for Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest launch Emily Eastman boards Norwegian Encore, the line’s fourth and final Breakaway Plus-class ship, and hears about their ambitious plans for the future The Norwegian Cruise Lines growth story is a captivating narrative. Since its 2013 IPO, NCL has performed successfully as an industry pioneer – a position backed by upbeat earnings and promising valuations. And those figures, in turn, are underpinned by the line’s unique approach to cruise, an approach that has earned it favour in the market and engendered a loyal customer following.

By actively pursuing a sea change in who cruises and how and where they do so, NCL has tapped into a market ripe for the taking. If the line’s order book is anything to go by, it’s been a successful strategy: between 2021 and 2027, six new Leonardo-class ships – the details of which remain a closely guarded secret – will be added to the fleet, which is currently 17 strong. And based on ship 17, an almost $1

billion megaship and the fourth and final Breakaway Plus-class ship, the coming vessels will offer a feast of entertainment designed to appeal to a global, multi-generation market.

It’s an impressive encore to NCL’s already strong performance.

“It’s a global product,” Eamonn Ferrin, NCL’s UK and Ireland MD, tells me, as we sit down on board the brand new Norwegian Encore.

“If you think about the staid images of what cruising is – that it’s only for old people, that you have to dress up for dinner – all of those clichés are incorrect. The world of cruising has moved on massively.

Now, it’s about multi-generational travel. The grandparents might come and want to stay in The Haven suites [Encore’s ship-within-a-ship concept], but their kids and grandkids want to experience the laser tag.

There’s something for everyone, whether you’re eight or 80. There’s no particular demographic we’re targeting – we want to build a product that everyone can enjoy.”

Norwegian Encore encapsulates this approach with ease. The ship is vast, housing an incredible 29 dining venues to please all palettes and going beyond traditional entertainment with an open-air laser tag arena, aqua park and the largest go-kart track at sea. The entirety of deck five is given over to kids’ and teens’ fun, with a nursery, sizeable kids’ club and enormous hang-out lounge for the teens, plus an arcade boasting VR elements. But the VR isn’t just for kids – head to deck 17 and into Galaxy Pavilion, a 900-square-metre immersive VR world where you can fly a UFO, paraglide and race Formula 1 drivers.

Galaxy Pavillion, the immersive VR experience on Norwegian Encore

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December 2019 | Forward

From top: the go-kart track; the Haven two-bed family villa; Choir of Man

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Traditionalists are catered for as well: in the Encore Theatre, Choir of Man send tingles up spines with their a cappella renditions of pop music and Irish folk songs, while Broadway comes to the ocean in Kinky Boots, a two-hour-long performance that transports you straight to the streets of, well, Northampton – but you get the idea.

To soothe, rather than kindle, the senses, the Mandara Spa is a tranquil space housing treatment rooms, a thermal suite and a snow room – the latest must-have spa experience in New York, I’m told.

The cabins are a proper retreat, and a significant improvement on the Norwegian cabins of old – I recall boarding Norwegian Epic back in 2015 to find the strangest bathroom layout I’ve yet to encounter on a ship.

On Encore, there are no such surprises – comfortable beds, neutral palettes and a proper shower cubicle.

In fact, the unpopular bits of the NCL fleet are a thing of the past. The line has spent $1 billion refurbishing its legacy fleet and incoming CEO Harry Sommer says it has the highest guest satisfaction rate in the history of the company, as well as the highest guest repeat rate. To top it off ? “We have the best trade support we’ve ever had,” he says. “We cannot succeed as a brand without trade support. The overwhelming majority of our guests are channelled through the trade community. We have six ships on order, but they’ll be impossible to fill without the trade.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by Eamonn Ferrin. “The trade are our backbone.

They are so important to us globally… that’s why we have over 2,000 of them on the ship as we speak. We want to show them the product and celebrate it with them, and build a bigger, brighter future.”

As we race agents around the Speedway, grab drinks in the Sugarcane Mojito Bar and applaud Choir of Man’s encore in what we’re told is their longest-ever standing ovation, I’m sure the line has every confidence in their agents’ ability to sell those features that make Encore an adept coda to this class of ship.

R ive r C r u is e Join us as we see iconic landmarks, explore fascinating cities and visit enchanting riverside towns.

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• Excursions included • NEW! 5* Premium Cruises • 62 Itineraries Across 32 Ships • NEW! A range of Worldwide river cruises

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December 2019 | Forward

PORTS OF CALL

Reykjavík Jane Archer profiles the Icelandic capital, which is becoming an increasingly popular cruise destination Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, is fast becoming the go-to port in Northern Europe for an everincreasing number of cruise ships as companies seek out exciting new places to take the new generation of adventurous cruisers.

For expedition lines such as Hurtigruten, Silversea Expeditions and Aurora Expeditions, it’s a handy turn-around port for Arctic cruises that pair Iceland with Spitsbergen or Greenland, or voyages around Iceland, as the city has excellent air links with the UK and US. For ‘ordinary’ cruise lines, a few days in Iceland adds an exciting twist to a Norwegian fjords voyage, while Reykjavík itself is perfect for a one or two-day call as there is a great variety of things to see and do nearby, from spouting geysers to riding or caving.

Reykjavík has two cruise docks – Miobakki, which is easy walking distance to the centre, and Skarfabakki, where most ships dock, which is about 10 minutes’ drive outside. The city’s hop-on, hop-off bus stops outside both so exploring alone is easy – especially as the metropolis is more town than city – and more revealing than a coach tour of the highlights.

Cruise Iceland says the number of ships visiting Reykjavík between 2016 and 2018 increased by about 25 per cent to 140, with passengers numbers leaping some 40 per cent to more than 143,000 over the same period. This year there were around 194 ship visits – cruise lines call mainly between May and September – bringing 183,000 passengers.

Among new faces this year, there was Scenic’s expedition yacht Scenic Eclipse, while Ponant’s Le Bellot will be there for the first time in

2000. Carnival Cruise Line makes its Reykjavík (and Iceland) debut in 2021, with a 12-day voyage roundtrip from Dover on Carnival Legend.

Geologically the world’s youngest country (although that still means it was formed several millions of years ago), Iceland sits below the Arctic Circle and was rather misnamed because, although it has harsh winters and there is lots of ice, come summer the snow melts from low-lying areas, unveiling green meadows, lava fields and hot springs that are easily explored from Reykjavík.

The Golden Circle is the most popular tour as it gives an insight into three of the country’s geological wonders. Visitors can stand astride the point where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet in Thingvellir National Park, watch thousands of gallons of water thunder 32m over the Gullfoss waterfall and marvel as the Strokkur geyser shoots water some 30m into the air every five to eight minutes.

Next up in the popularity stakes is the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa in the midst of a lava field that’s full of warm mineral-rich seawater (and, yes, it really is blue) said to do wonders for your skin. You can cover yourself in mud or algae, sign up for an in-water massage or just laze about in the water.

Whale-watching is another popular pastime. Sightings are never guaranteed, but some 20 species of cetaceans including minke and humpback whales frequent the krillinfested waters around Iceland in the summer so you’d have to be very unlucky not to spot a few.

Those feeling adventurous can go riding on the country’s sturdy Icelandic horses, or hop on a Jeep

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December 2019 | Forward tour to Mýrdalsjökull glacier and walk on the ice. Good hiking boots are a must and, as this trip is potentially as chilling as it is thrilling, some cruise lines ban jeans and insist participants have warm layered clothes, gloves, hats and scarves.

There are also helicopter rides over the mountains (some touch down on Mount Esja so folk can have an Instagram moment with the colourful rooftops of Reykjavík in the background) and much cheaper simulated flights at the FlyOver Iceland visitor attraction in the city. Other attractions include food tours and 64º Reykjavík Distillery, where alcohol is made from berries, rhubarb, seeds and other produce the owners have foraged.

There are trips to volcanoes – Holland America Line takes passengers to Hengill, an active volcano that provides some of the country’s electricity and hot water – and inside caves. On the Reykjanes Peninsula, which juts out to the southwest of Reykjavík, visitors can hike up the Stóra-Eldborg crater then go inside a lava cave. Safety helmets and flashlights are provided.

None of these excursions is cheap, but clients on a budget can get a taste of what it is all about on a one-hour tour of Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel, 30 minutes’ southeast of Reykjavík.

THREE REYKJAVÍK CRUISES Nine-day circumnavigation

12 nights round-trip from Hull

12 days direct from Dover

Hurtigruten – MS Fram Reykjavík (round-trip) June 15, 2020 From £2,879pp

CMV – Marco Polo Hull (round-trip) August 17, 2020 From £1,169pp

Carnival – Carnival Legend Dover (round-trip) July 4, 2021 From £1,299pp

This cruise, which begins and ends in Reykjavík, takes in all of Iceland’s incredibly geology and geography with expeditions and onboard lectures on science and photography.

Sail directly to the jaw-dropping geysers and lava fields of Iceland from Hull, with stops in the Faroe Islands, Shetland and Invergordon on the way there and back.

A no-fly cruise from Dover with all the big ship amenities you’d expect from Carnival. This new itinerary also calls in at Belfast and the Isle of Skye en route to the main attraction.

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December 2019 | Midship

2019

The year in review Anthony Pearce takes a look back over 2019, another year of industry firsts and new ship launches which saw the number of cruises taken by UK and Irish customers exceed two million for the first time. However, the troubles with Thomas Cook were a stark reminder of the challenges facing the travel industry as a whole

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, christens Saga’s Spirit of Discovery, during a ceremony in Dover in July

December 2019 | Midship It’s been another incredible year for cruise, made up of many industry firsts and ship launches from across the industry, from river and expedition ships to two of the largest cruise ships ever built. Perhaps most excitingly, in April, the Cruise Lines International Association (Clia) announced that the number of ocean cruises taken by UK and Irish passengers reached over two million for the first time. Andy Harmer, Clia UK & Ireland director, said: “It is a significant milestone, as it illustrates how cruise has become a major player within the UK and Irish travel sector.

“As only the second European market to reach over two million cruises, this figure demonstrates the continued strength of cruising as a mainstream holiday choice in the UK and Ireland and is a testament to the industry’s resilience to economic and political changes.”

We look back at some of the other major milestones from the year.

Viking expands and MSC defies the weather

Viking Cruises continued its rapid expansion in the ocean sector with the launch of Viking Jupiter, joining the Star, Sea, Sky, Sun and Orion.

Around the same time, it agreed a deal with the Italian shipyard Fincantieri for two further ocean ships, due to be delivered in 2024 and 2025, with options for ships up until 2027 (details of its new expedition vessels also emerged later in the year). In March, MSC Cruises launched MSC Bellissima at an improvised ceremony in Southampton; the proceedings, which had been taking place in a giant marquee next to the ship, were halted as the winds of Storm Freya descended on Southampton.

Princess goes king-size and river continues to rise

In April, Princess Cruises signed a deal with Fincantieri to construct the largest ships ever built in Italy. The

two 4,300-guest, 175,000 GT ships, will be delivered in 2023 and 2025 respectively, and will be dual powered, primarily by Liquefied Natural Gas. The same month, Norwegian Cruise Line expanded its Free at Sea programme, which is available for all cruises booked in the UK and Ireland. Guests who reserve a suite or higher category stateroom, including a Concierge Class cabin or a suite in The Haven, NCL’s ship-within-a-ship concept, now enjoy all five Free at Sea offers, such as beverage packages.

Spectrum of the Seas, the first of Royal Caribbean International’s modified Quantum-class of cruise ships, launched, as did Marella Cruises’ Explorer 2 and Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Vasco da Gama, as the ex-UK specialist continued its impressive expansion and looked towards the German market. Coral Expeditions, the Australian adventure line, launched its fourth and largest expedition ship, Coral Adventurer,

December 2019 | Midship

ahead of opening its UK office in Aldwych House in London.

As ever, spring proved a fruitful season for river cruise. Viking Cruises christened seven new river ships on the Rhine in Basel, with UK managing director Wendy Atkin-Smith named as godmother to Viking Sigrun, while Amadeus Star and Avalon Envision launched for their respective lines in April and May, while AmaWaterways also launched AmaMagna; in a glowing review, Jane Archer described the ship as blurring the line between river and ocean. At almost 22m wide, the vessel is twice the width of other river ships and oozes luxury, whether that be in terms of space (it holds just 196 passengers, which is less than river ships half its size). Furthermore, A-Rosa christened A-Rosa Alva and opened a new office in the UK in Cardiff, making a number of appointments. If that wasn’t enough, Perfect Day at CocoCay,

Royal Caribbean International’s first Perfect Day island, officially opened. Key features include Daredevil’s Peak – the tallest waterslide in North America; Up, Up and Away – a helium balloon that takes guests up to 140m in the air; the Caribbean’s largest wave pool; the first overwater cabanas in The Bahamas; the Caribbean’s largest freshwater pool, Oasis Lagoon; and a 500m-long zip-line course that criss-crosses the island.

In June, Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Voyages, made a surprise appearance at the 2019 Clia Conference as part of the line’s latest bid to woo travel agents. The event, which was the largest travel agent conference in the country, came under the theme of Next Generation. Lisa Lutoff Perlo, CEO of Celebrity Cruises, Larry Pimentel, CEO of Azamara Club Cruises, and Tom McAlpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages

also spoke at the event, which was attended by about 500 agents.

Saga looks to the future, but Thomas Cook is history

In July, Saga’s first new-build Spirit of Discovery was christened in Dover by the Duchess of Cornwall, a ceremony that followed the keellaying ceremony for sister ship Spirit of Adventure at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. New-build director David Pickett told cruise adviser the first two ships could be “just the start” of a larger fleet. At 58,250 tons and with capacity for 999 passengers, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure each have 517 crew and 99 cabins for solo travellers, but their interior designs are quite distinct.

In September, the industry was rocked following the collapse of Thomas Cook, triggering the biggest ever peacetime repatriation aimed at CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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December 2019 | Midship

Clockwise from top right: Scenic Eclipse; Richard Branson at the Clia Conference; Sophia Loren at the MSC Bellissima launch; Roald Amundsen in Antarctica

bringing home more than 150,000 British holidaymakers. More than 9,000 jobs were put at risk.

That month, Royal Caribbean celebrated the fifth anniversary of its agent rewards scheme, Club Royal (as well as the line’s own 50th birthday), at an event in Leicestershire. The company announced a host of changes to Club Royal including going digital, giving agents double spending money on certain experiences, a new training platform and the ability to make charitable donations through the scheme. It also celebrated its best performing agents with an awards on the night.

Having set sail on its maiden voyage from Reykjavík, Iceland, the long-awaited Scenic Eclipse was christened at Manhattan Cruise Terminal, New York City in September. Scenic Eclipse Godmother Dame Helen Mirren was joined by her husband, Academy Award-winning

director Taylor Hackford, and welcomed on board by ship’s co-owners Glen and Karen Moroney.

VR fun and Hurtigruten and Aurora break new ice

Autumn saw a string of launches with MSC Grandiosa and Sky Princess joining MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises, respectively. The latter, a 3,600-guest ship, includes the first-ever Sky Suites, which have the largest private balconies offered by the line, centrally located on the top decks of the ship. The two 65-square-metre suites will provide an uninterrupted 270-degree view and accommodate up to five guests.

Norwegian Encore, part of the Breakaway Plus-class, launched as the sister ship to Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Joy. It features the Galaxy Pavilion, a 900-square-metre VR world where you can fly a UFO, paraglide and race

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Formula 1 drivers (see p16 for Emily Eastman’s write-up) In November, Saga continued its incredible year by announcing plans to launch a new-build boutique river cruise ship in 2021. The new vessel will be named Spirit of the Rhine and follows Saga’s new ocean cruise ships.

In the same month, Hurtigruten christened its latest expedition vessel Roald Amundsen in Antarctica, becoming the first line to do so. At a ceremony in Chiriguano Bay on Brabant Island, polar pioneer and godmother Karin Strand named the new hybrid-electric-powered expedition vessel.

On the other side of the Drake Passage, Aurora Expeditions christened its new expedition ship, Greg Mortimer in Ushuaia, Argentina. The ship, the first to feature the revolutionary X-Bow, is currently sailing Antarctic voyages (see p32 for more).

December 2019 | Midship

CLIA RIVER CRUISE CONFERENCE

River cruise looks to the next generation and a sustainable future Emily Eastman reports from the Clia River Conference in Amsterdam and finds an industry buoyed by recent growth and making big plans going forward The Clia River Cruise Conference returned to Amsterdam last month and media and agents gathered to learn all about the latest trends and new products.

Of the latter, there are many.

With 16 new river ships set to float out in 2020, TUI launching its a river cruise programme, Saga building its first river ship and more international brands starting to sell into the UK market, it’s an exciting time for the industry. And, as it looks to the future, it’s appropriate that the next generation is in focus.

“Next generation means that river cruising really can offer something for everybody,” said Stuart Perl, chair of the River Cruise Working Group.

“Due to the amenities now available both on board and on shore, river cruises can now cater to every generation… it means that we have never had a larger target market for

river cruising, which in pure business terms means that [travel agents] now have many opportunities to bring in new cruisers and new sales.”

Perl called on the industry to dispel the myth that a river cruise is a sedentary experience only for the older generation. The key difference between ocean and river cruising?

According to Perl: “An ocean cruise takes you to countries, a river cruise takes you through countries.”

The industry may be growing organically (river cruise passenger numbers increased by 10 per cent in 2018), with the average age on the slide, but agents still have a key role to play in educating clients on the pros of river cruising – especially those that are helping to bring down the age bracket, such as a rise in wellness and adventure excursions.

The conference acknowledged the challenging Brexit-era market

and the impact of Thomas Cook’s collapse, yet river cruising remains on the upward curve.

In fact, Perl believes that the industry is on track to reach 250,000 river cruisers. In 2018, there were 230,000 on the waterways. cruise adviser writer Jane Archer reassured agents that there’s a cruise out there for everyone and encouraged them to “tell all your clients how wonderful it is, find them a river cruise they can’t resist and make sure they don’t miss out”.

The Clia Working Group spoke about a lack of first-hand knowledge about river cruising across the agent community. It shared six top tips for agents under the categories Focus, Range, Insight, Planning, Opportunities and Tips, also known as FRIPOT – or, when rearranged, PROFIT. Getting to know lines and destinations is key to sales.

writer Jane Archer told agents to find customers “a river cruise they couldn’t resist”

CRUISE ADVISER

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“Don’t rely on customers coming in and asking for a river cruise,” said Janet Parton, sales director at Cosmos and Avalon Waterways. “It’s really important to get on the product and utilise the cruise lines for fam trips… it means greater customer engagement and adds value to you.

You become an expert.”

The Working Group broke down the rivers into different types of break, saying that although there is some crossover, it’s a great place to start for new client: City breaks: Rhine, Danube, Scenic: Douro, Rhone Deep dive into cultures: Mekong, Amazon, Irrawaddy Food and wine: Garonne, Dordogne John Fair, UK sales director at CroisiEurope, said: “It gives you confidence to sell the right river to the right customer. It’s about repeat business – if they enjoy one river cruise they’re likely to want to do another.”

Their key sales hooks included only having to unpack once, the inclusions (such as excursions, drinks, dining and wellness activities) and also getting to the heart of a destination.

Walter Littlejohn, VP and MD at Crystal River Cruises, agreed that healthy industries evolve based on

creating new products for repeat customers. The ones that do well are those “with fresh concepts that meet untapped demand and serve a change in consumer tastes and preferences”.

Littlejohn noted that new prospects include ocean cruisers, and that, while repeat river cruisers are of high value, it’s also worthwhile thinking about how to sell the same destination to a cruiser that allows them to see that place in a new way. He said the growth of the ocean cruise industry came from the realisation that they’re not competing with each other, but rather with the all-inclusive resorts worldwide.

“One of the easiest and quickest ways to get people into river cruising is to go into your database and match existing clients with the right cruise,” said Littlejohn. “You can turn people not keen on ocean cruising to river cruise – there’s less motion, you can always see land. And then when they go on a river cruise they become much more open to buying an ocean cruise.”

He dismissed concerns that the river cruise market could become over-saturated. “As operators, we will become very smart about how and where we deploy the ships.”

To appeal to a new demographic of cruisers, Crystal has built in

flexibility and introduced more seven-night itineraries to appeal to working professionals with limited holiday time.

AmaWaterways executive VP and co-owner Kristin Karst touched on the destinations piquing interest – among them the Danube, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia. It’s a trend partly borne from greater demand for history tours and a look behind the Iron Curtain.

Karst also talked about safety on board in relation to AmaWaterways’ return to the Nile. It’s a point Debra Fox, APT’s chief commercial officer, agreed with, saying that clients like to reach destinations they possibly couldn’t get to on a land-based trip but enjoy retreating to the sanctuary of the ship post-excursion.

Fox encouraged agents to focus on Asia and the Baltics, refocusing on “what’s hot, rather than worrying about the climate in Europe”.

“I always believe wholeheartedly that under every travel challenge there is a greater or equal opportunity to be had,” she said.

It was a sentiment echoed across the conference. Recent and prospective growth have definitely buoyed the industry and, as agents continue their work in educating a brand new client base, the opportunities for further expansion are almost endless.

AmaWaterways’ co-founder Kristin Karst entertains agents; GoCruise’s James Hill joins Lucia Rowe and Simon McDermott, A-Rosa; Janet Parton, Avalon Waterways and Cosmo, speaks at the conference

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December 2019 | Midship

The Sustainable River Cruise Panel: (l-r) Giles Hawke, Avalon Waterways, Matthias Lutter, A-Rosa, Ben Wirz, Uniworld

Sustainability in focus

Recent years have seen sustainability enter mainstream discussions across the travel industry and a panel at the River Cruise Conference addressed some of the prominent issues, from going paperless to cutting emissions.

Ben Wirz, MD operations at Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and U River Cruises, spoke of the misconception that making significant changes to supply and operations can be costly. “There are possibilities to save money, and we always look at the return on investment. In general, there’s always a return, and from a sales point of view it’s worth spending the money, as we’d rather do it upfront and properly than have to do it later because you have to, and usually when it’s more expensive,” he said.

Uniworld has set itself a target of removing all single-use and unnecessary plastics in its operations and throughout its global offices within the next 24 months. “The most interesting part is that the higher cost of alternative products has been offset and more by removing unnecessary items and reducing the use of others, or using them in more efficient ways. And we can do all of this without having an impact on the guest experience,” said Wirz.

Preserving the guest experience and meeting expectations remains central to the work of river cruise lines. Giles Hawke, CEO at Avalon, called for a better culture of sharing among lines on what they’ve learned so that others can implement sustainable practices and products more quickly and easily. “The river cruise industry needs to create its own sustainability guidelines and all lines should share it, so we can have a fact-sheet for agents when they’re talking to customers and have all the details at their fingertips. Even if customers don’t care at the time of purchase, they will care by the time they cruise,” he said.

Hawke believes that people will eventually vote with their feet, but also that many customers simply expect lines to be already engaged in sustainable work. He cited Abta research that found 70 per cent of customers believe their tour operators should ensure their holidays fall under responsible tourism. And while he believes customers would pay more for this, he isn’t convinced that they would need to. “A lot of what we’re doing around sustainability actually has financial benefits,” he said.

Wirz agreed: “Those guests with a conscience about sustainability love the fact that we’re taking

these steps,” he said, noting the elimination of plastic straws, the introduction of glass and metal water bottles and digital, rather than paper, communications as examples of Uniworld’s work.

But some consider such steps a drop in the ocean (or river).

Fuel consumption and emissions remains a major sticking point as more lines and more ships take to the waterways. It’s something that A-Rosa is aiming to tackle with its new E-Motion ship.

“The current situation is seeing more demand to see towns and cities, but the infrastructure is not moving as fast as new ship builds, so we’re facing a lot of problems in how we reduce emissions,” said Matthias Lutter, head of new builds at A-Rosa.

The new ship switches to battery power when it approaches a town or city to save fuel, reduce emissions and keep noise disruption to a minimum. It will operate on the Rhine from 2021.

It’s efforts such as these that agents would do well to include in their communications. Recounting an anecdote in which customers began litter-picking on an excursion, Hawke said: “People care about it, and I think travel agents need to push us as the industry and cruise lines to give you the information.”

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ANTARCTICA

To the ends of the Earth

Sam Ballard joins Aurora Expeditions on the trip of a lifetime to Antarctica on board their revolutionary new ship Greg Mortimer.

All photos were taken on the 12-day cruise by Anthony Pearce

December 2019 | Midship One of the most surprising things about being in Antarctica is how quiet it is. It’s one of the first things that hits you. No civilisation. No people. There aren’t even trees to rustle in the wind. Once you notice the silence it’s the vastness of it that blows your mind. Antarctica is huge, expansive – and virtually untouched.

There is nowhere on Earth that can come close to it. To be there is humbling. There is an immense sense of power in the place. When you step ashore it feels like you’re walking on another planet.

We were in Antarctica courtesy of Aurora Expeditions, the Australia-based polar specialists, on their brand new ship, the Greg Mortimer. It’s a special vessel for a special destination. Named after the company’s co-founder, the ship is also the first in the world to be fitted with the X-Bow – the unique design that gives the ship a beaklike appearance (expedition staff quipped that it looks like a puffin) – that helps slice through ice and rough seas. The new design also helps ensure a smoother ride over the dreaded Drake Passage, reducing the effects of seasickness.

The journey to reach our destination would be a long one, at least by modern standards. We started with a flight to Buenos Aires (via a nice couple of hours in the Plaza Premium Lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 5). Then it was an overnight stay in the Argentine capital before flying to Ushuaia at the country’s southerly tip. We would stay in the pre-cruise hotel for another night before boarding our ship. It would then be two days sailing before we reached the South Shetland Islands, just off the Antarctic Peninsula. The following day we would finally set foot on the Frozen Continent. That’s five days of travel. It only takes three days to reach the Moon.

Having heard so much about the Greg Mortimer it was hard to imagine how it would live up to expectations. To say that it blew them out of the water is not to put too fine a point on it. This is a modern ship for a modern

Clockwise from below: Greg Mortimer in the mountainous Lemaire Channel, chinstrap penguins in Hydruga Rocks and Half Moon Bay; and the first glimpse of humpback whale

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age of expedition cruising. The Greg Mortimer will carry only 120 passengers on its Antarctic cruises – with 20 guests going off to kayak and 100 going on the ice.

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) limits the number of passengers allowed on the ice to just 100 – meaning that everyone gets to make a landing, every time. This is something to look out for on the larger expedition ships, where operators have to rotate landings.

Our crossing across the Drake Passage was bumpy – while the X-Bow does reduce the effects of seasickness it can’t eradicate fivemetre swells altogether. Aurora provides seasickness tablets free of charge, but the X-Bow did work.

Not only was it able to ensure a smoother crossing (according to experienced expedition staff and the ship’s doctor) but it also made it faster, a result of the ship not having to slow down or suffer from being buffeted by the waves.

During the crossing we got to know the expedition team on board. This was my first expedition cruise and I was not aware of how important the expedition team are to the sailing. Put simply: they make it. They were engaging, insightful and always had time for questions.

They gave lectures on wildlife and the history of the region.

Photographers taught passengers how to capture wildlife on their smartphone. The team of between 15 and 18 experts also spread themselves out across different tables during meals – enthralling guests with tales of their adventures.

It’s hard to describe how it feels to see that first chunk of ice, floating in the middle of the sea. It looks alien,

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December 2019 | Midship like it shouldn’t be there. Huge, curved and beautiful. Suddenly cameras were out and everyone was on deck. That afternoon we would make our first landing.

Every day of this trip managed to be more impressive than the last.

Our first landing was at Half Moon Bay on South Shetland, a series of islands just off the Antarctic Peninsula. We trooped down to the ship’s mudroom, in our thermals, waterproof trousers and Aurora expedition jacket. Once there we slipped on the boots that are provided, boarded our Zodiac and were whisked to shore. That’s where we saw our first penguins of the trip. The tiny chinstraps – which are so graceful in the water – waddle around on land, bumping into each other and falling over. It’s like a slapstick routine. We all just stood in silence watching them go about their business, not fazed at all by our presence. It was incredible.

It was the beginning of the season (November) when we travelled, which means that the snow and penguin rookeries are pristine but there is less of a chance of seeing wildlife. Go later in the season and you will see penguin chicks and are more likely to see whales, but there will be a lot more penguin poo (known as guano) in the rookeries.

Our second day would set the pattern for the rest of the voyage: with morning and afternoon landings made when we could. That morning we called at Hydrurga Rocks and in the afternoon Portal Point. The warm weather took us all by surprise as expedition jackets got unzipped and eventually taken off altogether. Penguin rookeries were everywhere and a huge seal lay prostrate by our landing site.

One of the expedition guides took the opportunity to make a slide down one of the steep hills – with passengers hurling themselves down it for the next hour.

Heavy ice meant that we couldn’t make our landing the following morning and visit the Post Office at Port Lockroy (set up by the British as a way of laying claim to the land) so instead we sailed down the CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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Clockwise from above: Chinstrap penguins at Hydrurga Rocks; Anthony Pearce and Sam Ballard head out kayaking; and brave the Polar Plunge; Greg Mortimer sails through the icy Peltier Channel

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Peltier Channel. The 10km passage was heavy with sea ice, so the captain used it as an opportunity to “see what the ship could do”. The hydraulic viewing platforms were lowered, allowing passengers to stand out from the edge of the ship and watch as the Greg Mortimer sliced through the ice. And, from the look on the expedition team’s faces you could tell it was something special. This is the only ship in the world where you can have this kind of experience.

That afternoon we went kayaking around Cuverville Island. By now, icebergs had become abundant and even more impressive. We paddled so close we touched them.

A raft of penguins surrounded us, gracefully diving in and out of the water as they went out to sea.

We almost capsize when what we think is a rock turns out to be a Weddell Seal, which glides right underneath our boat.

The following afternoon the call goes out for the ship’s inaugural Polar Plunge. The feat of madness involves jumping off the inflatable platform at the ship’s aft into the Antarctic waters. Incredibly, about 60 passengers opt in. We wait our turn and eventually plunge into the icy depths. The cold is so total that it takes your breath away. A shot of vodka brings the feeling back – helped by a trip to the sauna, where a bottle of whisky appears. Everyone is laughing, chatting and drinking in the heady atmosphere.

Given how we were warned that the wildlife wouldn’t be as abundant in November as later in the season – we were not left disappointed.

From the decks of the ship we saw seals floating on sea ice and a pod of orcas swimming past. On a Zodiac

KAYAK PHOTO: AL BAKKER; PLUNGE PHOTOS: MASSIMO BASSANO

December 2019 | Midship

December 2019 | Midship cruise we were lucky enough to see humpback whales. However, the best was yet to come.

On our final day of landings, we spent the morning at Elephant Point on Livingston Island. From a personal point of view, this is as exciting as it gets. I’d spent the entire voyage pestering the expedition staff about whether we would see elephant seals. Inspired by watching David Attenborough documentaries showing the massive animals – which can weigh up to five tons – fiercely jousting over territory. Aurora’s policy is to under promise and over deliver. As with everything in Antarctica the weather and ice can stop you making a landing so it’s best to not think anything is guaranteed.

In this case it worked perfectly.

We landed and were walked among dozens of animals, the biggest of which, known as ‘beach masters’, are absolutely massive. Whenever another male comes close the roaring and charging starts.

Suddenly you’re just metres away from two animals the size of SUVs bearing down on each other. To be just a few steps away as these massive mounds of blubber start to stir is heart-stopping. They never paid us any attention – they had more on their plates. To them, we’re probably just overgrown penguins.

Before we set off on this adventure, I was excited but I didn’t know why. I knew Antarctica was special, but I couldn’t have defined it beyond that. Once you’ve been there, you know. The land feels sacred. The vastness and enormity of the landscape translate into realising how delicate our planet is.

Travel has the ability to change your outlook on life and few places can compare to Antarctica for lifechanging experiences. If you have customers who want something that will blow them away, nothing else on Earth comes close.

Clockwise from below: the Peltier Channel; an adult elephant seal on Livingston Island, and a (considerably cuter) pup

Aurora Expeditions’ 12-day Spirit of Antarctica cruise costs from $10,900 AUD pp. See auroraexpeditions.com.au or email agents@auroraexpeditions.co.uk for more details

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December 2019 | Midship

SHIP SHAPE

Greg Mortimer Launched: 2019 Decks: Eight

Capacity: 120 guests in polar regions

The first to feature the revolutionary X-Bow, which makes sailing smoother, this ship combines true expedition with comfort. The marina and hydraulic viewings platforms are great additions.

Interview: Heidi Krajewsky, senior naturalist, Aurora Expeditions Heidi Krajewsky, an expert in wildlife, was a member of the expedition team on Greg Mortimer during the sailing.

Anthony Pearce sat down with her to talk about what wildlife to expect to see during the Antarctic sailing season of November to March.

CRUISE ADVISER: Hi Heidi. So when is the best time to see penguins nesting?

Heidi Krajewsky: “Throughout December, January and February, there is a lot of nesting activities for penguins.

On this trip, we saw lots of penguin activity, but because there was so much snow, there were no eggs.

“In December, the eggs are laid, but if you want to see chicks, usually it’s about Christmas time we see hatching on the Antartica Peninsula. But this always shifts a week or two each year.

“In January and February, the chicks are active; it makes the colonies more frenetic, because both parents are coming and going to feed them, and chicks are mobile, they’re no longer confined to a nest. It’s a bit like pandemonium to be honest! It’s also a bit muckier – in November, everything is still beautiful – it’s pristine, white and snowy. Later on in the season, it’s more guano-covered [that is, penguin poo] and muddy, but that’s simply because there’s more activity.”

Do you have a favourite part of the season to visit Antarctica?

“I’ve been very lucky to have visited Antarctica at different times of the year; it’s hard to choose, because I find it fascinating how different it is from November to March.

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“But it depends what people are after – behaviourally, I think the penguins are more interesting early/mid-season.

End of season, you start to lose your Adélie, because they have such a short breading season, and the chicks have fledged. We didn’t get many Adélies on this trip because of the ice, which we meant we couldn’t get that far south.

“Mid-season is busier, too, in terms of ships. There’s a wonderful co-operation that no-one anchors together, which is because of IAATO, we know each other’s schedule, but you will pass ships in the channel, and you will see more at the peak season [January-February].

“We’ve seen a couple of whales on this trip, but generally, you see whales later in the season – March is the peak. They are still coming from their breeding grounds [in November].”

CHRISTMAS BASH 2019 You are invited to join us for a night of networking, fun and festive cheer to celebrate our fifth birthday

TUESDAY DECEMBER 10 KING STREET TOWNHOUSE 10 BOOTH ST, MANCHESTER M2 4AW 18:30 – Drinks reception 19:00 – Introduction 19:15 – Networking 21:00 – Prizes 23:00 – Close Held in one of Manchester’s most impressive boutique hotels, travel agents are invited to meet the Cruise Adviser team and our sponsors to celebrate the festive period Availability is limited, so please RSVP to info@cruise-adviser.com as soon as possible to secure your place

SELLING TIP – A honeymoon is no time to be watching the pennies, so open the sales pitch with the top suites

HOW TO SELL

Honeymoons

Jane Archer is the authority on all things cruise. This issue, she looks at honeymoon cruise itineraries that allow newlyweds to sail away on an ocean of wedded bliss

Caribbean dreaming

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Pacific island hopping

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Mediterranean romance p44 Who says romance is dead? Not on the high seas it’s not, where cruise lines have treats galore in store for newlyweds. Whether it’s red roses, strawberries in chocolate, a romantic dinner for two, being pampered in the spa or Champagne with everything, cruise companies big and small offer

special packages for honeymooners to ensure their first taste of marital bliss goes with a swing. For agents, selling a honeymoon at sea brings handsome rewards; after all, this is one holiday where surely the best room on the ship is de rigueur and couples are prepared to splash out on the trip of

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lifetime. Over the next three pages we look at the best cruise lines for honeymoons in the Caribbean, South Seas and Hawaii, where sun-kissed islands and golden sands ooze romance, as well as offering romantic suggestions in the Mediterranean for those keen to stay closer to home.

December 2019 | Midship

Caribbean dreaming Whether honeymooners fancy a hideaway cruise around islands where the main attraction is swimming, snorkelling and lazing on a beach, or want to party in tourist hotspots in the Bahamas or US Virgin Islands, the Caribbean is there for them. This is the easy way for newlyweds to enjoy a different island and memorable experience every day, with the additional temptation of a tropical climate, inviting blue seas and cruise ships to suit all tastes, from small yachts and sailing craft to lively floating resorts.

Sailing Who? Star Clippers Where? Windward and Leeward Islands When? December 5, 2020 How long? Seven nights How much? From £3,440pp cruise-only With all that canvas billowing in the wind and a bottle of Champagne on ice, romance is certainly in the air on a Star Clippers tall ship. This cruise travels from Antigua to Barbados on Royal Clipper visiting quiet beaches and bays. The price is for the Owner’s Suite.

Yachting Who? SeaDream Yacht Club Where? Caribbean When? November 14, 2020 How long? Seven nights How much? From £6,301pp cruise-only Honeymoons don’t get

much more heavenly than on SeaDream’s diminutive yachts, where newlyweds can cuddle up under the stars on a bed strewn with rose petals. This cruise, roundtrip from Barbados, island hops through the Grenadines. The price is for the Owner’s Suite and includes drinks and tips.

Cruising Who? Princess Cruises Where? East and West Caribbean When? November 8, 2020 How long? 14 days How much? From £4,699pp cruise-only If honeymooning with the line that starred in the TV series The Love Boat isn’t romantic enough, newlyweds cruising with Princess can buy a package of goodies to make it go with a swing (bubbly, a trip to the thermal suite, breakfast on the balcony) for $299.

This is on the resort-style Caribbean Princess from Fort Lauderdale. The price is for a Penthouse Suite.

SELLING TIP – Weigh up the benefits of romance packages vs what luxury cruise lines offer as standard

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December 2019 | Midship

Pacific island hopping Artists, authors and celebrities have been falling in love with Hawaii and the South Pacific for hundreds of years so honeymooners won’t be disappointed. Neither destination is cheap due to the long flight (when business class definitely calls) and the exclusivity of the cruises, but the holiday will be a moment in paradise newlyweds will never forget. The choice of ships offering intra-island cruises is limited but that just makes it all that much more special.

All-inclusive Who? Paul Gauguin Cruises Where? Society Islands and Tuamotus When? November 11, 2020 How long? 10 nights How much? From £13,408pp including LAX to Pape’ete flights Honeymooners are spoilt on Paul Gauguin as they not only get to cruise these paradise islands but will be blessed for free in a traditional Polynesian ceremony.

Cruises, round-trip from Tahiti, are on the ship Paul Gauguin.

The price, for the Owner’s Suite, includes drinks, all dining, tips.

Freestyle Who? Norwegian Cruise Line Where? Hawaii When? November 14, 2020 How long? Seven nights How much? From £4,560pp cruise-only Say Aloha to Hawaii with

NCL who really glam it up for newlyweds with swanky suites, butlers and honeymoon packages of Champagne and red roses. The cruise is on Pride of America roundtrip from Honolulu. The price, for an Owner’s Suite, includes drinks, tips, wi-fi, shore credit and speciality dining.

Ultra-luxury Who? Regent Seven Seas Cruises Where? French Polynesia When? January 30, 2021 How long? 10 nights How much? From £15,709pp including flights Sometimes it’s easier to simply splash out on an all-inclusive fare. And they don’t get much more inclusive than Regent.

Newlyweds will be flown to Tahiti, showered with free Champagne, treated to romantic dinners and, as this price is based on a Master Suite, a pre-cruise hotel night. The voyage is on Seven Seas Navigator round-trip from Tahiti.

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SELLING TIP – Suggest a cruise outside school holidays if couples crave quieter together time

December 2019 | Midship

Mediterranean romance There are many reasons why newlyweds might prefer to honeymoon close to home: cost, concerns about the unknown, taking friends and family. If exotic isles don’t appeal, newlyweds will certainly fall in love with the Mediterranean. The chance to cruise the Greek Isles, the French or Italian Rivieras or just relax while being pampered. Whether clients fancy big or small ships, are on a budget or splashing the cash, there is a cruise to suit.

Big ship Who? Celebrity Cruises Where? Spain, France and the Italian Riviera When? September 28, 2020 How long? 12 nights How much? From £11,649pp cruise-only Ticking off romantic hotspots such as Provence, Florence, Sorrento and Nice with the added appeal of a honeymoon package of red roses, Champagne and cake. This cruise is on Celebrity Apex round-trip from Barcelona; the price is for a villa with access to the exclusive Retreat.

Small ship Who? Variety Cruises Where? Greek Isles When? September 4, 2020 How long? Eight days How much? From £3,144pp cruise-only When it comes to the Greek Isles, Variety

Cruises’ small ships are hard to beat with their private yacht feel and itineraries that dip in and out of islands away from the crowds. This cruise around the Cyclades from Piraeus has swim stops, BBQs and overnights for those who want to dine ashore. It’s on the 50-passenger Panorama.

All-inclusive Who? Seabourn Where? Morocco and Spain When? September 5, 2020 How long? Eleven days How much? From £12,999pp including flights For personal pampering after the stress of the wedding, it has to be Seabourn. This cruise, from Barcelona to Civitavecchia (Rome), is on Seabourn Encore, one of the line’s newest and biggest ships (which in Seabourn’s world means just 600 passengers), which has Champagne on tap and hideaway cabanas. This price, for an Owner’s Suite, includes drinks, speciality dining, wi-fi and tips.

SELLING TIP – Sell the attraction of one honeymoon, several destinations

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December 2019 | 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 2019 | Aft Celebrity Cruises Katherine Hulatt, trade support 01932 834 379 (option 2) salessupport.uk@rccl.com

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A-Rosa River Cruises Simon McDermott, business development manager 07340 719746 simon.mcdermott@arosa-cruises.co.uk

Celestyal Cruises Jo Reid, UK and Ireland country manager 07368 207 881 J.reid@celestyalcruises.uk

Amadeus River Cruises Natalie O’Mahoney, head of sales 0800 035 6411 sales@fredrivercruises.co.uk

Coral Expeditions Amy Sharpe, UK sales manager 020 3934 7170 UKSales@coralexpeditions.com

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

Cosmos Janet Parton, sales director 020 8315 4545 agencysales@cosmos.co.uk

American Cruise Lines Hannah Logan, product manager 0800 035 0237 sales@americancruiselines.co.uk

CroisiEurope John Fair, sales director 020 8328 1281 jfair@croisieurope.com

American Queen Steamboat Company Rupert Thomson, managing director 01223 568 904 r.thomson@aqgsa.com

Cruise & Maritime Voyages Lisa Jacobs, head of trade sales 0844 414 6140 lisa.jacobs@cruiseandmaritime.com

APT Touring Jessica Shelton-Agar, national sales manager 01494 736 147/07584 057 341 jessica.shelton-agar@aptouring.co.uk

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

Aurora Expeditions Talia Schwartzman, sales executive +61 2 9252 1033 agents@auroraexpeditions.co.uk Craig Upshall, sales director UK/Europe 07824 305 232 craig@auroraexpeditions.co.uk

Cruising Excursions Kirsty Bachelor, trade sales manager 07784 357977 Kirsty.Bachelor@cruisingexcursions.com

Avalon Waterways Janet Parton, sales director 020 8315 4545 agencysales@avaloncruises.co.uk

Cunard Line Victoria Snelgar, business manager – sales operations 07773 253 279 victoria.snelgar@cunard.co.uk

Azamara Lori Scanella, business support executive 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com

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Disney Cruise Line Juliet Holden, account executive 080 0171 2317 juliet.holden@disney.com

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Belmond Yann Guezennec, worldwide director of sales & marketing, trains & cruises 020 3117 1395 yann.guezennec@belmond.com

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Emerald Waterways Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 0161 233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk

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

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December 2019 | Aft European Waterways Mark Robinson, sales and reservations manager 01753 598 555 sales@europeanwaterways.com

Lucy Harris, business development representative 0344 338 8600 lucy.harris@hollandamerica.co.uk Hurtigruten Anthony Daniels, UK general manager 020 8846 2666 anthony.daniels@hurtigruten.com

E-Waterways Joanna Paslawska, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com Exotic Heritage Group Marco Rosa, UK representative 07973 876 967 marco@plateauinternational.com

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

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Far Horizon Hannah Logan, product manager 0800 035 3189 sales@fredrivercruises.co.uk

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

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Geoff Ridgeon, head of sales 01473 746164 cruise.sales@fredolsen.co.uk

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Katarina Line Olivera Lesinger, head of UK & overseas +38 5 51 603 409 olivera@katarina-line.hr

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

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

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

Great Rail Journeys Lindsay Dixon, head of trade sales 01904 527 180 lindsaydixon@greatrail.com

Leger Holidays Ashley Dellow, head of retail sales 01709 385 811 retail.sales@leger.co.uk Lindblad Expeditions Jacinta McEvoy vice-president global sales +1 212 261 9000 jacintam@expeditions.com

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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Aishling McLoughlin, sales representative UK & Ireland 07852 488 471 aishling.mcloughlin@hl-cruises.com

Lotus Cruises Marco Rosa, UK representative 07973 876 967 marco@plateauinternational.com

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

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The Majestic Line Louisa Grant, cruise co-ordinator 01369 707951 louisa@themajesticline.co.uk

Heritage Line Joanna Paslawska, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com

Manatee Amazon Explorer Joanna Paslawska, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com

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

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December 2019 | Aft Marella Cruises Andrew Isherwood, commercial support team 020 3451 2762 commercial.support@tui.co.uk

Paukan Cruises Marco Rosa, UK representative 07973 876 967 marco@plateauinternational.com

MĂśvenpick Cruises Marco Rosa, UK representative 07973 876 967 marco@plateauinternational.com

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

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

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

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Ponant Nabil Maillard, sales manager UK and Ireland 020 7092 6663 nmaillard@ponant.com

National Geographic Expeditions Simon Chambers, operations manager 01473 242 636 sales@fredholidays.co.uk

Poseidon Expeditions Alexandra Prokopyeva, sales and marketing 020 3808 7787 sales@poseidonexpeditions.com

Nicko Cruises Rupert Thomson, managing director 01223 568904 rupert@lightbluetravel.co.uk

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

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

Princess Cruises Mark Lowman, manager – sales operations 023 8065 6531 mark.lowman@princesscruises.co.uk

Norwegian Cruise Line Eamonn Ferrin, VP & managing director for UK & Ireland 023 8124 5000 eferrin@ncl.com

Pullmantur Cruises Dave Chidley, agency sales manager 0800 021 3180 sales@fredholidays.co.uk

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Oceania Cruises Lisa Clarkson, national accounts manager 07809 351 545 LClarkson@OceaniaCruises.Com Agency Sales, 0345 505 1920 AgencySales@OceaniaCruises.Com

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Quark Expeditions Christiane Bach, business development manager +1 416 645 8248 christiane.bach@quarkexpeditions.com

One Ocean Expeditions Debra Taylor, new business development 07956 852 197 debra@toucanmoon.com

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises Caroline Moody, business development executive 023 8068 2283 agencysales@rssc.com Anna Salter, business development executive 023 8068 2283 agencysales@rssc.com

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

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

Pandaw Hannah Logan, product manager 020 8396 7320 uk@pandaw.com

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December 2019 | Aft Rocky Mountaineer Steven Harris, regional sales director 07970 519 164 sharris@rockymountaineer.com

Touchdown | Travel Industry Services Robbie White, head of cruise product 020 8607 3805 rwhite@touchdown.co.uk

Royal Caribbean International Trade support team 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com

Travel2 Colin Currie, head of sales 07891 257 160 colin.currie@travel2.com Travelsphere & Just You Sarah Weetman, head of trade sales 07748 843 244 sarah.weetman@travelsphere.co.uk

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

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Scenic Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 0161 233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk

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

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

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Variety Cruises Chris Lorenzo, managing director, Seafarer Cruises 020 8324 3114 info@seafarerholidays.co.uk

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

Victoria Cruises Tom Antonucci, sales manager +1 212 818 1680 tom@victoriacruises.com

SeaDream Yacht Club Mark Schmitt, sales director 07904 068 407 mschmitt@seadream.com

Victory Cruise Lines Rupert Thomson, managing director 01223 568904 rupert@lightbluetravel.co.uk

Shearings Michael Bowers, national sales manager 01942 823 449 sales.support@shearings.com

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

Silversea Sales support 020 7340 0700 salesuk@silversea.com

Volga Dream Hannah Logan, product manager 0800 021 3186 sales@fredrivercruises.co.uk

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

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Tauck UK country manager 080 0810 8020 tauckreservations@tauck.co.uk

Widgety Sandra Barnes-Keywood, head of sales 023 8042 8000 – opt 2 sandra@widgety.co.uk

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

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

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December 2019 | Aft

KNOWLEDGE

Know your... seasickness ‘cures’ From Gravol to ginger, Anthony Pearce looks at ways of keeping your sea legs Motion sickness occurs when there’s a conflict between what your eyes see and what your body senses. If they’re out of whack, dizziness, nausea and vomiting can follow – which, if persistent, can completely ruin a good holiday.

Some people experience it on cars, trains and planes, but it’s most common on ships, particularly over choppy waters. You’ll hear potential customers say: I’d love to try a cruise, but I have enough trouble crossing the English Channel, never mind spending a week or more at sea.

The truth is that cruise ships, which are often larger than ferries and may have stabilisers, can deal with swells pretty well. On the largest ships, sometimes you can barely feel any movement at all.

You might get sick every time you get near a ship, or you might be certain you’ve got your ‘sea legs’ and feel invincible. But the problem with seasicknesss is that it can spring a surprise. I felt fine on the notorious

Drake Passage, but had (relatively mild) symptoms on the North Sea and even one night in the Caribbean.

So, how do you test your ‘sea legs’?

Mini-cruises are a good shout, but remember that northern European waters can be choppy – meaning a fly-cruise to somewhere warm may be a better option.

Seasickness is a bit like a hangover in more ways than one: there are ways to combat it, but there are no magic solutions to prevent or cure it, and everyone has their ways of dealing with it. Overthe-counter drugs promethazine (often sold under the tradename Phenergan), an antihistamine, and dimenhydrinate (often sold under the tradenames Draminate, Gravol and Dramamine) are tried and tested methods, although both, the former in particular, can cause drowsiness. These are often sold in cruise ship shops, and it’s also worth remembering that there is a doctor on board. Some people swear by

acupressure wristbands (sea bands), although their effectiveness is debated, while Scopolamine patches, which are placed behind the ear, are growing in popularity, but also cause drowsiness. For those that want to avoid drugs, there’s always ginger, which has all sorts of healing powers, while green apples, which have lots of fibre in them, are often recommended by crew.

Your position on the ship is crucial.

Picking a cabin in the midship and in the lower decks (but above the water line), limits how much you feel the motion of the waves, meaning you’re less likely to feel seasick; keeping your eyes on the horizon can help restore balance, so an ocean-view cabin is a good idea – although squirrelling yourself away in your room can make you feel worse: a little bit of fresh air can work wonders.

For more, see our interview with Aurora Expeditions’ Dr Lesley Cadzow on cruise-adviser.com

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December 2019 | Aft THINGS TO DO

GAMESROOM

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

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3. As found at Pompeii, Karnak, Chichén Itzá etc (5)

7. Where to sight the Bridge of Sighs (6) 8. Australia’s national gemstone (4) 9. A cruise ship’s mooring ropes (7) 11. Doctrine (3)

4. First Lady? (3) 5. A navigational aid on your cruise (4) 6. Confidence-building words (11)

12. Round bread roll (3)

10. Fish eggs (3)

13. US President _______ Hoover (7)

14. South Korean port and resort (5)

16. You can’t go lower than this on a cruise (4)

15. Scheme (4)

17. Ship’s petty officers (6)

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17. Glacier ___, Alaskan destination (3)

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See the next cruise adviser in January for the answers

18. Famous for a bridge and an opera house (6) 19 Requirement (4)

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December 2019 | Aft

LOOKOUT

All the pictures from the latest cruise events Some pictures from Saga’s UK National Contact Centre Awards which took place at Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall last month. cruise adviser was the media partner at the event.

Maggie Bradford (top right) was one of the big winners, and the other agents are pictured celebrating and cutting a rug at the party aferwards.

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December 2019 | Aft

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December 2019 | Aft

FINAL WORD

Making dreams come true Inspired by his recent trip to Antarctica, Sam Ballard on how travel agents are on the front line when it comes to helping people tick off those bucket-list destinations As you may have spotted from our social media channels, and indeed the pages of this issue of cruise adviser, we have recently ticked something rather large off our bucket list: Antarctica. Don’t worry though, I’m not going to use this article to tell you even more about our voyage with Aurora Expeditions.

What I did want to cover was something less tangible than the destination itself. It’s harder to define – but it was present in every person who was on our trip to the Frozen Continent. It’s that look of total disbelief and wonder that can only happen with travel.

When it is someone’s dream to see an orca in the wild then they are going to remember it forever when a pod of them swim by. It could equally be penguins or elephant seals – we saw people practically in tears at

seeing both – but it doesn’t have to be wildlife. It might be your client’s dream to trek through a rainforest or, if they’re not as active, eat in a certain restaurant. It could even be just stepping foot in a country. It’s your job as agents to interpret the lifelong ambitions and dreams of people and make them a reality. Nail it and they will remember you forever.

It is the single greatest thing about our industry – and as travel agents you are on the front line when it comes to making lifelong dreams and ambitions come true. It’s also fundamental in terms of adding more value to your own business and proving why customers are better off using a skilled travel agent to book their holiday as opposed to risking their dream and doing it online.

Cruise can be a massive part of this.

When it comes to searching for those

elusive wildlife species, more often than not a cruise is the best way to see them. Often, although admittedly not always, it can be the only way.

Whether it’s combining a safari with a cruise in South Africa, or taking a cruise down the Amazon, there are fantastic opportunities to combine the most relaxing mode of travel with ticking off your bucket list.

On that note, as we approach the end of what has, for many, been a difficult year of trading, we would like to raise a glass and wish you a very merry Christmas! Those of you who live in or around the Manchester area are invited to come and celebrate cruise adviser’s fifth birthday at our annual Christmas Bash – just email info@cruise-adviser. com for more details – and hopefully we’ll see you there.

Thank you for your support!

COMING NEXT TIME Ex-UK Guide

Class of 2020

Where next for cruise?

Our annual guide to every single Ex-UK departure in 2020 – covering Southampton and all regional ports

A look at the biggest launches happening next year, another huge 12 months for the industry

We ask industry leaders to gaze into their crystal balls and tell us what the next 12 months has in store

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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F EAT U R ES | R O O M SE RV I C E M E N U | SH O R E E XC U R SI O N S

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GLOBE

ISSUE ONE

Issue One

PREVIEW EDITION

December 2016

DECEMBER 2016

WATERMARK YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST HOLIDAYS IN THE WORLD

WHY ARE CRUISES M A K I N G WAV E S ?

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

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

FJORD FOCUS A JOURNEY TO WEST NORWAY

Give back with trips that support the local host communities

Roam Russia

Discover the grand delights of St Petersburg and Moscow year-round

New routes

Low-cost carriers are mapping their way in long-haul airspace

WONDERFUL WORLD FOUR BUCKET-LIST STOPS

Solus

ISSUE 0NE

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

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

Issue two

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

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SECRETS OF THE DOURO Explore the wonders of Porto with our new itinerary for 2017

MEET THE FLEET Introducing a trio of new ships: Emerald Radiance, Liberté and Destiny

RAISE A GLASS Enjoy the world’s finest wines during our new cruise on the Rhône

WHICH RIVER ARE YOU? Find out which Emerald Waterways cruise best suits your personality

thetravelvillage

Travel industry insights / September 2018

Soak up the colour, culture and energy of Argentina’s pulsing capital – an unforgettable introduction to the sensual appeal of Latin America

Stepping lightly

ON THE HORIZON THE LATEST CRUISE NEWS

EMERALD WATERWAYS AN IN-DEPTH LOOK

thecruisevillage

Buenos Aires

CRUISE & MORE HOLIDAYS OF A LIFETIME

EMERALD EXPLORER

Eastern promises Sailing Asia’s majestic Mekong with APT Touring

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

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

Issue three

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

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

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vouchers

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

issue 3

issue 2

A new trade magazine from the team at cruise adviser

Issue three

Page 1

ISSUE TWO Issue two | Section Name

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

FROM THE TEAM

SOLUS

AT

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

THE ABTA MAGAZINE GUIDE TO

THE ABTA MAGAZINE GUIDE TO THE

THE ABTA MAGAZINE GUIDE TO

MURCIA

CARIBBEAN

CRUISE 2018

U By Uniworld Innovation at sea European river guide

Incredible cuisine Pulsating carnivals Authentic adventure

Discover Spain’s best kept secret

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LUXURY GUIDE 2018

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

C E L E B R I T Y E DG E | F R E D O L S E N R I V E R | B U DG E T C R U I S E

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

ISSUE THREE

PRE & POST GUIDE 2018

H E L P I N G YO U S E L L S O L O T R AV E L S E P T E M B E R 2 0 18

OC TO B E R 2 0 1 8

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HIGH LIFE

ON THE HIGH SEAS The dazzling rise of luxury cruise

Fields of Bali

Island life

Sam Ballard sails on Star Clipper in Indonesia

T H E Y E A R I N R E V I E W | TO K YO | C L I A R I V E R CO N F E R E N C E

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

N O V E M B E R 2018

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

D E C E M B E R 2 0 18

CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES

AU R O R A E X P E D I T I O N S | R I T Z - C A R L TO N | C R Y S TA L R I V E R C R U I S E S

Anthony Pearce explores the Caribbean with Viking Cruises

HOW TO MAKE A CRUISE

EVEN BETTER

EXPRESS YOURSELF WHY RAIL HOLIDAYS ARE IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN

The added extras that can transform your clients’ holidays

INFOCUS: G ADVENTURES DISPELLING SOLO TRAVEL MYTHS COACH TOURING IN AUSTRALIA

ISSUE FOUR

FEATUR ES | R O OM SERVI CE M ENU | SHOR E EXCUR SI ONS

ISSUE TWO

GLOBE

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

YO U R O N B OA R D M AGA Z I N E

MARCH 2018

JA N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y 20 1 8

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WIN!

Dive in Down Under

Sue Bryant sails on Celebrity Edge, the much hyped new ship that could change the future of cruise

A NIGHT ON MSC’S BRAND NEW SHIP BELLISSIMA

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

PARADISE FOUND We return to the Caribbean with P&O Cruises and find it very much open for business after last year’s hurricanes

PLUS HOW TO SELL: EX-UK PORTS OF CALL: COPENHAGEN WAVE: SPECIAL OFFERS ROUND-UP

EMPIRE OF THE SUN A TRIP DOWN MEXICO WAY 02

James Litston casts off with Coral Expeditions to encounter the rich, diverse marine life of the Great Barrier Reef

Edge of tomorrow

Jeannine Williamson joins CroisiEurope in the heart of Prague, before exploring the lesser-known Elbe en route to Berlin PLUS 10 OF THE BEST WILDLIFE CRUISES EXCLUSIVE RITZ-CARLTON INTERVIEW CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES IN AMSTERDAM

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BRILLIANT BANGKOK INFOCUS: INTREPID COACH VS CRUISE HOW TO SELL: SOLO TRAVEL

WHY THE THAI CAPITAL IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A BACKPACKER HAVEN

INTRODUCING

SPIRIT OF THE RHINE

Launching in Spring 2021, Saga’s first purpose-built river ship will bring our award-winning ocean cruise experience to the riverways of Europe.

Value is unbeatable. Every Saga boutique river cruise includes…

• VIP travel service from home • Optional travel insurance • French balconies for almost all cabins • Free-to-dine a la carte restaurant • A selection of drinks at lunch and dinner • Up to eight included excursions • On-board gratuities • Complimentary Wi-Fi, and more!

Spirit of the Rhine cruises on sale from December 9, 2019!

Saga’s holidays and cruises are exclusively for the over 50s (but a travelling companion can be 40+). NTA-RC6411.