Cruise Adviser — March 2018 by Cruise Adviser

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

M A R C H 2018

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

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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March 2018 | Forward EDITOR’S LETTER

The Elbe: one of Europe’s most enchanting rivers Hello and welcome to the latest issue of cruise adviser, the industry-leading cruise publication for the travel trade. On our cover this month is the magical city of Prague, one of Europe’s best-known and most beautiful capitals – but an under-the-radar cruise destination. Although divided by the Vltava river, it is the Elbe that runs alongside it, providing access to a handful of low-draft cruise ships. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY On p34, Jeannine Williamson joins CroisiEurope’s 80-passenger, paddlewheel Elbe Princesse on the route, delighting in the gothic architecture of Bohemia, and proving that even in Europe, it’s not hard to find new cruise experiences. Elsewhere, Gary Buchannan hears more about the ultra-luxury Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in an exclusive interview with Doug Prothero, the company’s MD, and we share some of the incredible renderings (p22). We sail away to the paradise that is Sorrento in our Ports of Call feature (p28), while Gilly Pickup joins the fast-growing Cruise & Maritime Voyages on its flagship Columbus on mini-cruise to the ever-fascinating Amsterdam (p30). We also check in with Michelle Daniels of Voyages to Antiquity to hear more about the single-ship line that puts an emphasis on learning and destination immersion (p40). As ever, there’s our inimitable How to Sell guide (p42), this time with a focus on the various family cruise options; the only comprehensive cruse line directory section you’ll find anywhere (p49); a mouth-watering chocolate melting cake recipe from Carnival Cruise Line (p56); plus, a chance to win a cruise for two on Cruise & Maritime Voyages (p55). We hope you enjoy reading – happy selling.

THIS MONTH WHAT WE LEARNT

P28

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

M A R C H 2018

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

EVERYONE LOVES CAPRI Vladimir Lenin, Audrey Hepburn and Beyoncé have all holidayed on the Italian island

P34

SIR NORMAN FOSTER DESIGNED THE DOME The architect – of The Gherkin and Wembley arch fame – worked on the Berlin landmark

P56

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CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

VEGANISM HAS GONE MAINSTREAM Vegans make up one per cent of the UK population – so cruise ships (and agents) need to make sure they are prepared

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Charming, colourful facades in Prague, Czech Republic, p34

Contents MIDSHIP 34

Exploring the Elbe — Europe’s forgotten river CroisiEurope’s new paddlewheel ship has unlocked the Elbe, carrying Jeannine Williamson from the heart of magical Prague through the treasures of Saxon Switzerland and on to Berlin

Infocus: Voyages to Antiquity Michelle Daniels explains to Anthony Pearce how the single-ship operator keeps its loyal group of inquisitive travellers educated and entertained How to sell: family Our unique how to sell

guide – this time looking at the fast-expanding world of family cruise 46

Top 10 Fantastic beasts… and where to find them. We take a look at the incredible wildlife that can be enjoyed from the comforts of a cruise CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Why choose to cruise with CroisiEurope? For your clients:

For you the agent:

• Excellent value for money • Stylish well appointed cabins with panoramic windows • Superb French cuisine • All inclusive drinks • Exclusive destinations • Largest choice of itineraries to choose from including river cruises, coastal cruises and barges

• Excellent commission rates • 24/7 online booking portal W rld-W ide River Cruises • Dedicated trade sales support team • UK reservations team • Fam trip opportunities • Training sessions • Generous group programme • Image and video library CANALS

•

RIVERS

•

COA S TAL

EUROPE’S LARGEST ISE RIVER CRU H IT W Y N A COMP 50 SHIPS

IM067100025

Your dedicated travel trade team: JOHN FAIR UK Sales Director ✆ 0787 253 6174 jfair@croisieurope.com

NATHALIE ANSEL Key Account Manager ✆ +33 3 8876 4197 nansel@croisieurope.com

SANDRINE DREWETT Reservations Manager ✆ 0208 328 1281 resuk@croisieurope.com

GABRIELLE ALAM Head of UK Sales & Marketing ✆ 0208 328 1281 tradesalesuk@croisieurope.com

ZOLTAN BICZO Reservations Consultant ✆ 0208 328 1281 resuk@croisieurope.com

ELODIE CROMER, E-Commerce Manager ✆ +33 3 8844 9939 ecromer@croisieurope.com

www.croisieurope.co.uk

KATE SELLEY PR Guru ✆ 01258 860003

March 2018 | Forward

FORWARD 3

Ed’s letter

News The campaign to ban singleuse plastic, Aurora goes adult-only, plus some exciting news from the publisher of cruise adviser…

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

New crew The big cruise industry hires this month

Interview: Ritz-Carlton Gary Buchanan is in port as the luxury hotel brand sets out to make a splash at the top end of the market

Five minutes with... Azamara Club Cruises Sam Ballard speaks to Larry Pimentel, the company’s president and CEO, about why their latest refit could open the door to new business for British shipyards

Titan For travel agent Gwyneth Prosser, a seven-day river cruise through Europe’s historic heartlands with one of the industry’s best-known operators was a fairytale Ports of Call: Sorrento Naples’ smaller cousin offers sweeping views across the bay and a short hop to the legendary island of Capri CMV Mini-cruise Gilly Pickup has a ticket to ride on a pre-Christmas trip to the canals of Amsterdam and the musical streets of Hamburg, former home of The Beatles

Ritz-Carlton p22

AFT 48

Talking point To tip or not to tip? That is the question that frequently gets Brits in a twist

Directory All the cruise line contact details in one place

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

Recipe The best recipes to be found at sea. This month: Carnival Cruise Line’s warm chocolate melting cake, plus a look at the vegan cruise experience

Final word Why cruise needs to look beyond repeat customers

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

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Ultra-Luxury Mediterranean holidays Cruise from £2,999pp Fly/cruise from £2,999pp

The World’s Finest Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line Cruising with Seabourn is unlike any other form of travel. The experience is luxurious, yet relaxed … elegant, yet casual … sumptuous, yet understated. Your clients will enjoy a perfect blend of glamorous elegance, impeccable service, exquisite cuisine and highly personalised destination experiences. RESERVATIONS: 0344 338 8610 | www.seabourn.com | e-mail: salessupport@seabourn.co.uk For online training visit: seabournacademy.co.uk

The Seabourn Difference • Spacious, all-suite accommodations, most with private veranda • Gourmet dining experiences that rival the ﬁnest restaurants anywhere • Intuitive, gracious service provided by a staff passionate about pleasing your clients • Complimentary welcome champagne and in-suite bar stocked with your clients preferences • Open bar throughout the ship, and ﬁne wines poured at lunch and dinner • Tipping is neither required nor expected, service simply to delight

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Monte Carlo, Portoferraio (Elba), Amalﬁ (Italy), Taormina (Sicily), Xlendi (Victoria, Gozo); Valletta (Malta, overnight), Bonifacio (Corsica), Bandol (France), Palamos (Spain), Barcelona.

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Seabourn Encore: 11-nights 28 Jul*, 1 Sep 2018 Cruise from £4,299pp Fly/cruise from £4,299pp

Barcelona, Valencia (Spain), Cadiz (Seville), Portimao (Portugal), Tangier (Morocco), Malaga (Granada, Spain), Cartagena, Ibiza, Le Lavandou (France), Monte Carlo

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Terms & Conditions: Signature Savings terms & conditions apply. #Free or Reduced Air on select routes subject to availability. Offers expire 13/03/18

Promotion

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

Andrew Schweitzer, regional sales manager, Viking Sam Ballard heads out for a day on the road with Viking’s regional sales manager for the south to tell agents all about the cruise line’s exciting new developments With more ocean and river ships on the horizon, returns to Egypt and Ukraine, as well as new itineraries from its existing fleet, there is little wonder that Viking’s team need to keep touching base with agents up and down the country. The company will be launching eight river ships next year (two of which will be on the Douro) so there is plenty to talk about through both its river and ocean product. We joined Andrew Schweitzer, Viking’s regional sales manager for the south, to get a grip on what travel agents are most excited about in the coming months.

10am Marlborough The first stop off on our tour of the southwest was with Elaine’s Travel, an independent store which recently celebrated its first anniversary. Elaine Ferry, the owner, was interested to hear that Viking will be adding two more ships to its Douro fleet in 2019 as demand is soaring for the product. 11am Royal Wootton Bassett We arrived at Cannon Travel just in time to help sort out a query for a group of singles. The store’s agents – Debbie, Moira and Danielle – said that, while river was as popular as ever, they were seeing their Viking Ocean business start to grow, too.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Promotion 1pm Malmesbury Jo and Meg at Miles Morgan have their first passengers on board a Viking Ocean cruise right now – in the sunny Caribbean. So our delivery of brand new ocean brochures arrived just in time. Viking will be releasing them quarterly from now because of company’s rapid growth.

4.15pm Cheltenham Beth at Miles Morgan wanted to firm up details of the event the company has planned with Andrew. He’ll be discussing the merits of a wine cruise with a local wine club – talking about the chateaus the cruise will call at as well as the types of wine they’ll be able sample both on and off board.

2.30pm Cirencester Laura and Rachel were holding the fort at the Miles Morgan store in Cirencester. The company has had a strong January and wants to get its agents to focus on cruise. It brought Viking on as one of its prestigious preferred partners recently – helping to develop its sales even further.

Would you like the Viking team to visit your store? If you are in the south, email Andrew Schweitzer on andrew. schweitzer@vikingcruises.com or if you are in the north, email Jenny Wade on jenny.wade@vikingcruises.com

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES CLIA are supporting the Family Holiday Association to bring hope and happiness to UK families facing lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toughest challenges. Just one day away can give a struggling family a new sense of hope and normality and the opportunity to create precious memories to draw on when times are tough. Our aim is to raise enough funds to provide 250 families with a precious day out at the British seaside or local tourist attraction. With your help we can achieve this goal!

We are calling on everyone to help raise money with the goal of providing some incredible memories for struggling families up and down the UK. Andy Harmer, SVP Membership & Director, CLIA UK & Ireland

The Family Holiday Association is a registered charity no. 800262

FAM315

Call Izzy on 020 3117 0663 to get your own fundraising activity started or visit FamilyHolidayAssociation.org.uk/CLIA

NEWS

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

ENVIRONMENT

Cruise lines move to ban single-use plastics from ships Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara, P&O and Cunard all make commitment

Britain’s largest cruise companies have moved to ban single-use plastics on board their ships. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line said that it would be looking to eliminate single-use plastics on all three of its lines – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises – across its combined 38-ship fleet. The company failed to put a date on its commitment, but said that it would first target straws and drinks bottles before looking to cut down on soft furnishings. P&O and Cunard went one step further and said that they would commit to banning single-use plastics

from its hotel operations by the end of 2022 as part of its environmental compliance plan. Josh Weinstein, president of Carnival UK, said: “While we have stringent regulations and procedures on our ships for recycling, we need to go to the source of the supply chain to encourage changes to packaging and remove single-use plastic products from our hotel operation. “We are in discussions with our suppliers to try to influence the removal of single use plastic in products such as straws, water bottles and food packaging wherever possible, as well as reviewing our

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

wider sourcing strategy of the most environmentally friendly products across the board. “Programmes such as Blue Planet have shone a light on the impact plastic can have on our seas and it is our responsibility, as an oceangoing cruise line, to take action now, however many hurdles we have to face. The ocean is a fundamental part of our business, but, more importantly, its preservation and that of the surrounding shores is critical for our future and that of future generations. We, as well as our guests, have a duty to respect and protect it as part of our wider environmental protection.”

NORWEGIAN’S NORWEGIAN’S

REMIUM INCLUSIVE PREMIUM ALL ALL INCLUSIVE Book Now! Book Now!

500 500

FREE ON-BOARD CREDIT OF UP TO

PER STATEROOM*

INCLUDED PREMIUM BRANDED BEVERAGES

March 2018 | Forward P&O CRUISES

Aurora to become adult-only vessel The ship will re-enter service in April 2019; passengers already booked with kids can re-book on other ships

INCLUDED AWARD-WINNING ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDED SERVICE CHARGE & TIPS INCLUDED SOFT DRINKS & BOTTLED WATER INCLUDED NEW WIFI PACKAGE

7-DAY MEDITERRANEAN PREMIUM ALL INCLUSIVE CRUISE FROM

909 P.P.*

TO BOOK CALL 0333 241 2319 OR VISIT AGENTS-UK.NCL.EU

*Lowest available price per person based on cruise only in an inside cabin, twin occupancy, Norwegian Epic 7-Day Western Mediterranean from Barcelona departing 29 April 2018. On-board credit is valid for new bookings from 1 February to 3 April 2018 and applicable for all 5+ days cruises worldwide. OBC : US$ 50 for a Studio, US$ 100 for an Inside or Oceanview, US$ 150 for a Balcony Stateroom or Mini Suite, US$ 250 for a Suite/The Haven and US$ 500 for selected Suite/The Haven categories. On-board credit of the promotion amount is per stateroom, in U.S. Dollars, and will be applied to the 1st and 2nd guest in the stateroom. The credit has no cash value and is not transferable. It may not be used towards pre-purchased activities. Norwegian Joy sailings are excluded from this offer. Please refer to terms and conditions at ncl.eu/promotions. Offer is limited, subject to availability and combinable with selected specials. Including all Premium All Inclusive services at a value of more than £1,200 per stateroom (based on a 7-day cruise in stateroom categories up to Mini Suite and the current retail prices charged on board as well as the applicable discretionary service charge). Subject to availability. For more information visit www.ncl.co.uk. Errors and omissions accepted Errors and omissions accepted. NCL (Bahamas)Ltd., UK Office | 4th Floor | Mountbatten House | Southampton | SO15 2JU | U.K. ©2018 NCL Corporation Ltd. Ship’s Registry: Bahamas and USA. 6731.22.2.18

• • • •

BOOK 01 – 31 MAR 2018 5 NIGHTS OR MORE RETAIL BOOKINGS ONLY EARN £30 ON ALL BOOKINGS

PLEASE CONTACT OUR MONEYCARD TEAM AT MONEYCARD@NCL.COM OR VISIT WWW.YOURMONEYCARD.CO.UK Full terms and conditions apply.

Aurora is set to become an adult-only ship, P&O Cruises has announced.The 1,874-guest ship will be converted and re-enter service on April 8, 2019. The move will take the line’s adult-only ships to three, with Aurora joining Arcadia and Oriana which are both already adult-only. Passengers already booked on Aurora with children are being offered the option of re-booking on Azura, Oceana, Britannia or Ventura.

Anyone cancelling will receive a full refund along with a future cruise credit of five per cent of the value of their cruise. Travel agent commission is protected at five per cent. Senior vice president Paul Ludlow said: “P&O Cruises is all about choice, whether our guests want the fantastic range of activities and children’s clubs on our family-friendly ships or prefer the peace and serenity of our adultonly ships.”

NORWEGIAN

THE CRUISE

Money raised to rebuild Caribbean schools

Documentary series returns to ITV

The operator of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises has raised $2.5 million for hurricane relief. More than $1.25 million was donated by team members, guests and travel partners, which Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings matched. The money will assist All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response in rebuilding safe schools on five Caribbean islands.

ITV documentary The Cruise will be back on TV screens at 8.30pm on Thursday, March 1. The latest series, which comprises three weekly episodes, will follow crew and guests on the 3,100-guest Star Princess as the ship tours Alaska. The Cruise: Voyage To Alaska is the fourth series in total and airs after the previous series, set in the Mediterranean, concluded in February. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

NORWEGIAN’S NORWEGIAN’S

March 2018 | Forward

PREMIUM INCLUSIVE PREMIUM ALL ALL INCLUSIVE Book Now! Book Now!

HURTIGRUTEN

Hybrid expedition ship rolled out

500 500

FREE ON-BOARD CREDIT OF UP TO

PER STATEROOM*

Launch ceremony for Roald Amundsen – due to be delivered in July – took place at Ulsteinvik in Norway

INCLUDED PREMIUM BRANDED BEVERAGES INCLUDED AWARD-WINNING ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDED SERVICE CHARGE & TIPS INCLUDED SOFT DRINKS & BOTTLED WATER INCLUDED NEW WIFI PACKAGE

7-DAY MEDITERRANEAN PREMIUM ALL INCLUSIVE CRUISE FROM

The first of Hurtigruten’s new hybrid expedition ships has been rolled out for the first time. Roald Amundsen, which is due to be delivered in July, is being built at Kleven Yard in Norway. A launch ceremony took place in Ulsteinvik in February. Construction for the second hybrid new build – the near identical Fridtjof Nansen – is also under way. The 530-passenger vessels will be

fitted with battery packs, which will reduce emissions. Hurtigruten said the ships – which will sail Antarctica itineraries alongside Fram – will be the world’s “greenest, safest and most advanced expedition ships”. The new vessels will feature custom-built expedition equipment, including a fleet of Blueye underwater drones, kayaks and large inflatable explorer boats.

CELEBRITY

RIVER CRUISE

30,000 trees planted in Galápagos islands

Titan to charter second river ship in 2019

Celebrity Cruises has planted 30,000 trees in partnership with the Galápagos National Park on Santa Cruz Island as part of its commitment to conserve the area. The goal, was set in 2014, has been exceeded by 150 per cent thanks to contributions from guests and crew. “We want to ensure future generations have the same Galápagos experience,” said Bernardo Carrillo, managing director of Celebrity.

Titan will exclusively charter a second river ship, the Bellejour, as of 2019. The four-star 180-passenger ship will be in the company’s 2019 river brochure with sailings on the Danube. Agents will receive the new brochure from April. Andy Squirrell, managing director for Titan, said “We are delighted that in our 40th anniversary year we are able to expand our river cruise programme with a second exclusive Titan ship.”

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

909 P.P.*

TO BOOK CALL 0333 241 2319 OR VISIT AGENTS-UK.NCL.EU

• • • •

BOOK 01 – 31 MAR 2018 5 NIGHTS OR MORE RETAIL BOOKINGS ONLY EARN £30 ON ALL BOOKINGS

PLEASE CONTACT OUR MONEYCARD TEAM AT MONEYCARD@NCL.COM OR VISIT WWW.YOURMONEYCARD.CO.UK Full terms and conditions apply.

March 2018 | Forward ABTA MAGAZINE

Waterfront to publish Abta mag

Cruise Adviser and Solus publisher wins contract for bi-monthly magazine Waterfront, publisher of cruise adviser and Solus, has been awarded the contract for Abta Magazine, and its associated publications. The new magazine portfolio will provide Abta members, partners and the wider travel industry with high-quality publications featuring industry insights, news from Abta and sector and destination features. Launching in May, the new Abta Magazine will be a bi-monthly publication in a new size and format, distributed to around 20,000 Abta Members and industry contacts.

As well as offering industry insights and sector and destination features, there will be new sections for readers’ letters plus competitions. Abta Magazine will also be available online, bolstered by news, reactive comment pieces and longer-form insights. Along with the bi-monthly publication, Waterfront will produce a number of other products as part of the publishing package, including an annual Abta Handbook plus targeted

special publications and supplements. Victoria Bacon, director of brand and communications, Abta said: “We’re really excited about the opportunities this new partnership with Waterfront Publishing provides. They’re experienced in the travel industry and they have a proven track record of delivering publications of outstanding quality with highly relevant and engaging content.” Email info@abtamag.com.

A-ROSA

CLIA

P&O CRUISES

German river cruise line reports revenue increase

Annual conference to focus on technology

Gratuities to increase from March 23

German river cruise line A-Rosa has reported a six per cent increase in revenue as it announced its acquisition by Duke Street had been completed. Lucia Rowe, head of A-Rosa UK said: “Last year was great for A-Rosa globally, with many contributing factors, including our new route on the Seine which has proved a popular choice and the increasing demand from customers to see more while they’re away. “Sales for 2018 have started well and we are already 20 per cent up on where we were this time last year. We remain totally committed to working only with our trade partners and agents and it is going to be an exciting year.”

Clia is to highlight technology at its main conference in May. The conference will look at ship design, on board initiatives, and investments in technology from Clia’s member lines. Andy Harmer, senior vicepresident membership and UK & Ireland director, said: “Technology will be running as a sub-theme of the conference, alongside the main #GenerationCruise focus. There’s no denying that in 2018, and beyond, technology is a crucial part of our everyday lives, and this is mirrored in customers’ increasing demands for a seamless experience while on holiday.” The conference will take place from May 23-25 in Southampton.

P&O Cruises is to increase its gratuities from £6 to £7 per adult per day on all cruises from March 23. In a statement the line said: “We know that rewarding really good service as it happens just isn’t convenient, so our Service Reward Programme provides a simple oneoff way for you to say thank you for all the service you receive. “For cruises departing March 23, 2018 onward, this amount changes for each guest (over 12 years of age) to £7 per day.” The line last increased gratuities on March 27, 2017, from £5 to £6. For more about the differences in tipping culture from country to country and onboard currency, turn to p48. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Explore

GLOBE

Issue One

December 2016

CRUISE ADVISER THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

PREVIEW EDITION

D E C E M B E R 2016

CRUISE ADVISER

F E AT U RE S | R O OM SE RVI C E ME N U | S H O R E E XC U R S I O NS

ISSUE ONE

FEBRUARY 2016

CRUISE ADVISER

EX-UK 2016

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

WATERMARK

ADVENTURE 2016

YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST HOLIDAYS IN THE WORLD

EX-UK GUIDE 2016–2017

ADVENTURE 2016

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

RIVER GUIDE

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

Solus

I SSUE 0NE

HURTIGRUTEN

HOW TO SELL

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

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

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

Our unique walkthrough guide featuring 14 fantastic adventure cruises

P30

P24

P 36

P40

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

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

Issue two

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

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

CA-7

CRUISE ADVISER

WONDERFUL WORLD FOUR BUCKET-LIST STOPS

FIRE & ICE

thetravelvillage

APRIL 2016

LUXURY 2016

ON THE HORIZON THE LATEST CRUISE NEWS

EMERALD WATERWAYS AN IN-DEPTH LOOK

thecruisevillage

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

CRUISE ADVISER

CRUISE & MORE HOLIDAYS OF A LIFETIME

CA-10

FJORD FOCUS A JOURNEY TO WEST NORWAY

AMERICAN QUEEN

Eastern promises Sailing Asia’s majestic Mekong with APT Touring

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

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

Issue three

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

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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

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

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March 2018 | Forward TUI

New boss for Tui UK

Andrew Flintham was supposed to be new boss at Thomas Cook Andrew Flintham, the former commercial director of Tui UK, is to become the company’s new managing director – after previously being announced as the incoming boss of arch rivals Thomas Cook back in October. He had been due to take over the top job at Thomas Cook in March but has now taken over at Tui. The move follows the resignation of Nick Longman – who was at Tui for 20 years – last month. Flintham had been at Tui for more than 10 years, holding positions

including commercial director, mainstream planning director, aviation planning director and planning and trading director. Flintham said: “I am delighted to become the new managing director of Tui UK and Ireland, a role I couldn’t imagine would become available when I resigned the commercial director position a few months ago.

I look forward to working with such a great team again as we continue to take our business forward. Tui’s global portfolio includes 16 cruise ships with lines such as Marella Cruises, Tui Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd. They also own more than 300 hotels, six airlines and 1,600 retail stores. They travel to 180 destinations around the world.

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CMI to provide hotel operations on new ship

Horizon entertainment options revealed

More than £8,000 raised for hurricane relief

Aurora Expeditions, the Australian expedition cruise company, has announced an agreement with CMI Leisure to provide hotel operations for their new vessel, including staffing, food, housekeeping, purchasing and logistics. Greg Mortimer – a new 104m ice class 1A expedition ship – will be delivered in 2019. Robert Halfpenny, managing director of Aurora Expeditions, said: “We knew that our new, high-performance expedition ship needed high-performance service-delivery as well. “CMI Leisure’s unique concepts, including al fresco dining, are a perfect match for the innovations aboard our Infinity-class vessel.”

Carnival Cruise Line has revealed the entertainment options that will be on board the line’s new ship, Carnival Horizon. The three new shows – the New Orleans’ inspired Soulbound; Celestial Strings, which features a live string trio; and Vintage Pop, a roaring twenties show with sixpiece live band – were created by in partnership with leading figures from Broadway and the West End. Carnival Horizon is due to launch in Europe in May, before heading to New York and then Miami where it will operate Caribbean cruises. The 15-floor, 133,500GT ship will have a capacity of 3,936 passengers and comes with its own onboard craft brewery.

More than £8,000 has been donated to support hurricane relief efforts in the British Virgin Islands by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. The money was raised by passengers on two Caribbean cruises on Braemar in January. The donation was handed over to the British Virgin Islands’ Red Cross in Tortola. The cruise line has also donated new crew uniforms worth £33,000 to two of the worst-hit islands – Barbuda and Dominica. Fred Olsen also donated 1,465 new uniform items to the islanders before Christmas, including shoes, trousers, shirts and skirts, along with 2,263 individual items of used uniforms. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

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March 2018 | Forward

FAM TRIPS / INCENTIVES

Fred Olsen to hold first trade conference

MSC announces extended ship tour programme

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is to host its first trade conference aimed at giving travel agents the chance to learn what’s new at the company and hear more about its plans for the future. Closer – which will be held on April 30 and May 1 at The Belfry hotel in Sutton Coldfield – will include workshops, conference sessions and a gala dinner. There will also be a mini-golf competition.

Royal Caribbean to surprise and delight

MSC Cruises has announced an extended ship visit programme. On MSC Magnifica in Southampton, the company will be offering an Aurea experience on April 16; a MasterChef At Sea event on July 9; a bring your children event on July 30 and August 23; and a cruise and stay night on October 15.

There will also be ship tours on MSC Magnifica in Southampton, Invergordon, South Queensferry and Newcastle between April and October. MSC Meraviglia will be calling in at Invergordon, Greenock and Southampton throughout the year. Email tradesupportuk@msccruises. co.uk to get on board the ships.

Royal Caribbean International is to give away 25 ‘surprise and delight’ boxes to members of its Club Royal travel agent reward scheme. The boxes will be delivered to agents who have been nominated by their Royal Caribbean account manager for “doing something extraordinary”. Prizes include branded bottles, notepads, bathrobes, £25 scratchcards and sweet treats. To join, contact your account manager or see myclubroyal.co.uk.

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March 2018 | Forward

NEW HIRES

John Fair joins CroisiEurope in new UK sales director role

NCL appoints new marketing manager Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced the appointment of Silvia Andreotti as marketing manager UK and Ireland. Silvia joins the team based in Southampton, reporting to marketing and PR director Karen Sequeira, who said: “Silvia brings with her a wealth of marketing experience and skills, and will be instrumental in helping us shape our marketing plans as we move forward.”

Barrhead announces expansion plans

CroisiEurope has announced that John Fair will join the company in the newly created role of UK sales director. He will report into international sales director Michel Grimm, who is based in Strasbourg. Grimm said: “We’re excited to welcome John to lead and develop our UK team. He brings a wealth of experience in both river cruise and the wider UK outbound travel industry.

“He is also familiar with our brand, having worked very closely with us while in his previous role as Cosmos Cruises Director.” Fair added: “CroisiEurope is Europe’s largest and most innovative river cruise operator with 50 ships and well-established programmes on all the major European rivers, as well as an ever-growing long-haul capacity in the Far East, Africa and Canada.”

Barrhead Travel, acquired by Travel Leaders last month, has announced plans to hire up to 100 new staff. Sharon Munro, chief executive, said: “We are on the lookout for exceptional individuals with a passion for travel. Our expansion plans this year alone will see us taking on up to 100 new employees, including modern apprentices, destination specialists across our branch network and a variety of non-sales roles, including marketing, web content and business development.”

Former deputy governor of the Bank of Ireland looking forward to “building on recent investments and initiatives” in new role as Saga chairman Saga, the touring, cruise and insurance company for over 50s, has named Patrick O’Sullivan – the former deputy governor of the Bank of Ireland –as its new chairman. O’Sullivan replaces Andrew Goodsell, who announced his intention to stand down in October. Orna NiChionna, senior independent director at Saga, said: “We are delighted to welcome Patrick to the board of Saga. He brings many years of highly relevant commercial

and board experience, working with companies in the financial services and insurance sectors. “His wisdom and leadership will be invaluable as we invest in growing the customer base to deliver profit growth across the business.” O’Sullivan spent spent 12 years working at Zurich Insurance Group, where he held a number of roles, including chief executive of Eagle Star and chief executive of UK General Insurance.

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He said: “Saga is a household name and a brand that I admire. “I am very pleased to be joining at a pivotal moment in the development of the company as it focuses on sustaining profitability and growth across the businesses. “I look forward to working with management and the board to build on recent investments and initiatives to deliver profitable growth.” O’Sullivan will take up his new role from May 1.

March 2018 |Forward

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

“This is a long-standing dream for Ritz-Carlton” Gary Buchanan is in port as the luxury hotel brand sets out to make a splash at the top end of the market The much anticipated keel-laying of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s inaugural ship took place in January at the Hijos De J Barreras shipyard in Vigo, marking the first venture into cruise for the luxury hotel operator. Witnessing the initial 118-tonne module being lowered into place in the building dock were José García Costas, chairman of the shipyard; Tim Grisius, global real estate officer for Marriott International; Fredrik Johansson, owner and executive project director at Tillberg Design; and Doug Prothero, managing director of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Speaking to cruise adviser at the event, Prothero said: “The keel-laying marks the realisation of a longstanding dream for the Ritz-Carlton brand. This is the first cruise ship built at HJ Barreras – the largest privately-owned shipyard in Spain.

We decided on this shipyard because of their quality of work, delivery time and their transparent approach to the build process.” This liner, the first of three all-inclusive, 190m-long luxury yachts, is scheduled to enter service late next year. Each ship will have 149 suites accommodating a total of 298 guests who will be looked after by a crew of 246. As one of the most prestigious names in hospitality, it’s no surprise that Ritz-Carlton turned to Tillberg Design, among the world’s leading marine architecture and interior design companies, to draw up the plans for its yachts. “This is a new breed of ship,” Johansson said. “The opportunity to design The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has been extremely exciting as we have been able to create a whole new brand from

scratch. With their long, sleek and elegant exterior, Ritz-Carlton yachts are designed to turn heads and will look like no other cruisers in port.” The new venture certainly seems to have caused a stir in the industry. “Since we issued a single-page press release in June it has garnered three billion media impressions and been the leading cruise story globally,” declared Prothero. He puts this phenomenal interest down to three factors: the power of the Ritz-Carlton brand, the unique hybrid design of the yachts and the growth in the cruise market itself. “The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has significant brand equity and can bring new customers into cruise,” he said. “Based on our current marketpenetration trends, we anticipate the number of cruise passengers globally to grow by four per cent annually through to 2020.”

The team behind the new ships, above, from left: Fredrik Johansson, Tim Grisius, Doug Prothero and José García Costas

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March 2018 | Forward Accommodation on the yachts will range from 28.9 sq m suites to a pair of penthouse suites at 100 sq m (plus a 50 sq m veranda). There will also be 12 duplex suites. To increase the sense of space, most suites will have a ceiling height of almost 2.6m. Interiors will take their cues from contemporary properties such as the Ritz-Carlton residences in Sunny Isles, Florida, and on Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles. There will be five dining venues, the largest of which will be divided into smaller spaces resembling a fine-dining venue on shore. These include a 30-seat concept by Sven Elverfeld, an extension of Aqua, the three Michelin-star restaurant that he runs at the Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg. In addition there will be the Marina Grill: a casual, Asian-fusion venue specialising in seafood. All of the restaurants with the exception of Aqua will offer the choice of inside or alfresco dining. Bucking the trend found on other small cruise ships there will be no show-lounge or casino; however the ship will have a number of intimate entertaining areas such as the panorama lounge and wine bar. There will also be a spa where each treatment room benefits from its own private veranda. Like any oligarch’s super-yacht there will be a beach club at the stern of the Ritz-Carlton ships. The platform will stay in a permanent lowered position offering access to the ocean by a few steps whenever the vessel is at anchor. Reservations for the first of three yachts in the collection open in May. The first ship will cruise to a variety of destinations including the Mediterranean, northern Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The second yacht will also offer a Great Lakes itinerary between Montreal and Chicago, while it is expected that the third yacht will be deployed in the Asia-Pacific region. Targeting the top one per cent of global travellers and offering one-of-a-kind onboard amenities and experiences, Prothero is convinced the company is on course to redefine luxury at sea.

The yacht’s living room, the owner’s suite and its panorama lounge

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March 2018 | Midship

FIVE MINUTES WITH…

Azamara Club Cruises Sam Ballard speaks to Larry Pimentel, the company’s president and CEO, about why its latest refit could open the door to new business for British shipyards The news that Azamara Pursuit is to be totally refitted in the UK is big news for British shipbuilding. The project, which will be entirely managed by MJM Group, an outfitter based in Newry, Northern Ireland, rather than overseen by Azamara itself, represents an entirely different approach to doing business. There are a lot of people watching this refit to see how it goes. For Azamara, it makes sense. A British company to oversee a ship that will be christened in Southampton and is due to make regular calls to the UK too. I spoke to Larry Pimentel, the president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises, to find out more. Why is there such an emphasis on the UK with Azamara Pursuit? The Azamara Pursuit has come from a UK brand [P&O], its first voyages will be from the UK, it will be christened in the UK and its captain is from the UK. Now our ship is being refurbished by a British company. It’s historic. This may be the start of a new way of refitting ships [using an external company to manage the whole process]. This has the opportunity

to create a broadened industry right here in the UK. That’s why all eyes are on us. Why is the UK so important to Azamara? The reason we’re putting this in Southampton is that Azamara’s team in the UK team have constantly escalated their business. They had 70 per cent of their goal on January 1, which is remarkable. It was a hell of a year last year – double-digit growth. This new ship has 40 per cent British bookings. For us, it is such an uplifting time. It’s like all the stars have aligned. It’s very exciting from a brand point of view. I’ve said this many times but if I was starting again I would have made this a British brand – I think it would have been ideal. The response from this market is fantastic and, at the same time, since we founded the company in 2010, our rates have gone up by 50 per cent. And to use a British company fits in with the British narrative? We’ve got these escalating rates, this escalating base as well as fantastic

satisfaction and profitability: all the elements are there. For me, to use MJM, a local family business, is very exciting, as is the chance to bring a different type of business to the UK. MJM already has one of the foremost outfitting companies but for them to be able to refit Azamara Pursuit in their own backyard, with some consistency, and manage the project too, is a whole other development, and it is a fascinating one. Tell us what else we should be excited about? On its maiden voyage to Norway, the Azamara Pursuit will be in Haugesund with the Azamara Journey. Most people would say that’s no big deal but the last time two of our ships met we got 85 million social media impressions. In 2018 we will go to 80 countries with three ships, and visit 260 ports – that’s a lot of coverage in the world. This new ship is increasing our capacity by 50 per cent. It’s not minor for us. It’s a prolific and historic step – and it’s suitable that we’re approaching it in an historic way with MJM.

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Promotion

Explore the amazing Ayeyarwady and mighty Mekong eWaterways are delighted to introduce Heritage Line’s unique and luxury wellness and gourmet voyages through Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam Heritage Line – one of the most distinguished and renowned luxury river cruise lines in Southeast Asia – will sail special themed cruises through Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam in 2018. The series of wellness and gourmet voyages will run from the end of October and throughout November on the Ayeyarwady river and on the mighty Mekong. Swiss Michelin-starred chef Felix Eppisser will join the elegant Anawrahta in Myanmar, where guests will be treated to special dining events on the five-day Bagan to Mandalay journey while, on the Mekong river, Heritage Line will welcome Sara Danesin Medio, Italian-born

MasterChef finalist and restaurateur, on board The Jahan on a five-day voyage from Phnom to Siem Reap. Guests can also book the Mekong Gourmet Voyage for the seven-night itinerary, which starts in Saigon and ends in Siem Reap, enjoying three additional days of cruising before the culinary highlights start with a welcome dinner in Phnom Penh. Heritage Line has also invited an expert partner for the two wellnessthemed cruises on the Ayeyarwady and Mekong in October. Yoga and health expert Marion Meidlinger will guide guests through daily yoga and meditation sessions, and there will also be nutrition lecture demonstrations and walking and cycling tours.

Heritage Line’s luxurious flagship, Anawrahta, is the very embodiment of extravagance. Its suites combine British grandeur with local art for a true east-meets-west feel. The Jahan, meanwhile, is its most romantic cruise ship. The vessel’s staterooms and suites are beautifully appointed and stylish interior design, complete with antique furniture. All cruises and can be booked through eWaterways (0808 168 1458) Theme cruise rates start from £1,885 per person for the Wellness Voyage on Anawrahta (four nights, Myanmar) and from £1,005 per person for a Gourmet Voyage on The Jahan (four nights, Vietnam & Cambodia)

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TITAN

A taste of the Rhine For travel agent Gwyneth Prosser, a seven-day river cruise through Europe’s historic heartlands with one of the industry’s best-known operators was a fairytale come true The Titan service began at Heathrow where we were met by Alana Jones, the agency’s sales executive. I was one of 18 agents headed for Titan’s exclusive charter cruise on the 68-cabin MS Serenade 1. We joined the tour on day three by flying to Basel on October 20. The other guests had travelled from the UK two days earlier, spending time in Geneva and Montreux before joining the ship. The staff on board gave us a warm welcome and even the passengers seemed genuinely pleased to see us, although their good mood could have had something to do with the chocolate factory they had visited that morning. After a glass of bubbly we were shown to our twin shared cabin: it had everything you could possibly need, from the en-suite bathroom with separate shower and bath to satellite TV. A daily programme of the next day’s excursion was provided along with historical notes on the port of call. Customers who didn’t want to follow the planned itinerary could explore for themselves or stay on the ship. Although most of the guests took up the offer, a few of the guests had trouble walking long distances so stayed on board. For those that went, it fell to the onboard tour manager to try and organise us all! The quality of the food on board was excellent: breakfast cooked to order; four courses at lunch; afternoon tea; a four-course dinner and a midnight snack served in the panorama lounge. Local wine and beer were served with meals and hot drinks were available at any point. Our journey took us through Breisach, Kehl, Mainz, Koblenz, Bonn and Cologne, finishing in Amsterdam. The Rhine is so beautiful: apart from the wonderful castles, palaces and cathedrals, we also passed through

many locks, which would see all of the agents crowd onto the top deck to see the gates open and close. One fellow traveller who was a local expert (or so he had us believe) fed us extra facts on the various places of interest. I learnt so much during the week, not only about the history of the Rhine, but about how Titan take care of their customers. The warm

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welcome and the option to either follow the itinerary or take things at your own pace make this a wonderful holiday, especially for older people. The agency also offer VIP door‑totour transfers, with a driver to collect you from home and a Titan agent at the airport from check-in to your destination. For many people this could be the difference between having a holiday or not at all.

March 2018 | Forward

PORTS OF CALL

Sorrento

Naples’ smaller cousin offers sweeping views across the bay and a short hop to the legendary island of Capri Il dolce far niente, the Italian phrase meaning “the sweetness of doing nothing”, was seemingly invented for Capri, the Bay of Naples enclave that has proved a luxurious, relaxing getaway since Roman times. The emperors Augustus and Tiberius had villas there, but the island truly established itself as a retreat for the rich and famous at the turn of the century, welcoming actors, revolutionaries, authors and intellectuals. The likes of Oscar Wilde, Vladimir Lenin, Graham Greene, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Clark Gable and, more recently, Beyoncé and Leonardo DiCaprio have all holidayed there. Today, you’ll find Capri busy with tourists, particularly in the summer months: it’s no longer the exclusive resort it once was – although there is luxury if you want it – but its beauty remains unabated. From a cruise perspective, there are two ways to get there. Larger ships call at Naples (where transfers are available), whereas the likes of Oceania Cruises, Crystal and Star Clippers call at Sorrento, a pretty but small resort town. Sorrento’s bars,

restaurants and shops (which sell ceramics, lace-work and intarsio) sit against the striking backdrop of its imposing sea cliffs. The town is best known for the digestif limoncello (made from lemon rinds, water and sugar), which is produced there. The factories where the drink is made are open to the public and worth a visit. Sorrento is also the gateway to some of Italy’s finest sights: to the south is beautiful countryside, to the north is Pompeii and other ancient ruins, while to the east is the Amalfi Coast, on a walkway DH Lawrence called the “path of the gods”. If your guests want to walk there are plenty of routes available, suiting all ages and mobilities, many of which follow ancient trade routes. Cruise lines and local guides run tours, but with a map and a bit of preparation, they’re also easy to do alone. If there’s time, there’s no better way to explore this remarkable region. Similarly, making your own way from Sorrento to Capri is easy enough. From the marina there are regular boats to the island that take 30 minutes and cost around €16; in Capri, there’s a regular funicular

March 2018 | Forward railway which will take you to Capri Town for a few euros. Some cruise lines will charge guests to rent an audio guide, but not include these two expenses. Capri Town is, unsurprisingly, pricey: full of boutiques, gift shops and tourist-heavy cafés, but outside the town you’ll find luxurious villas, some dating back to Roman times, with neat, intricate gardens where olives, lemons and basil plants grow; as well as winding cobblestone paths and beautiful views across the region. There are also some incredible restaurants, serving cuisine from the island, the wider region and the rest of Italy. The most famous dish found here is ravioli caprese, made with parmigiano, aged caciotta cheese and marjoram in a fresh tomato-and-basil sauce. It’s simple Italian cooking at its best. The island is only four miles long with any number of signposted walking routes or winding pathways to wander down. It’s away from the main drag you will find the real Capri. The island’s most famous attraction is the Grotta Azzurra,(pictured above) a mesmerising sea cave illuminated by an ethereal blue light. Two Germans – the writer Augustus Kopisch and painter Ernst Fries – claimed to have discovered the cave in 1826. In reality they weren’t the first: it was already used (and kept secret) by the locals,

and Tiberius built a quay in the cave in about AD30, complete with a shrine to Triton, the messenger of the sea in Greek mythology. Excursions run from the marina and take an hour or so. To see further evidence of Roman settlement, there’s also the Villa Jovis, found at the summit of Mount Tiberio, which boasts incredible views. It was built in the first century

AD for Tiberius, the most splendid of 12 imperial hideaways that he commissioned on the island. Only ruins remain: eight levels of walls and staircases that hint at the grandeur of the original building, a spectacular example of early Roman architecture. And of course, there’s also a beach: the Marina Grande Beach, which is two minutes’ walk from Capri’s bustling, pretty port.

THREE SORRENTO CRUISES Overnight in Sorrento

Med cruise from Southampton

Beyond the pillars of Hercules

Voyages to Antiquity – Aegean Odyssey Rome – Venice September 11, 2018 From £2,795pp

P&O Cruises – Arcadia Southampton (round-trip) May 28, 2018 From £2,360pp

Crystal Cruises – Crystal Serenity Barcelona-Venice August 19, 2018 From £3,782pp

This cruise spends two full nights docked in Sorrento, with ample time to explore Pompeii on a guided tour and the port itself at your leisure.

Enjoy Mediterranean splendours and Unesco world heritage sites with a leisurely 17-night no-fly voyage on P&O’s adults-only ship.

Highlights come thick and fast on this cruise, including St Tropez, Rome, Sorrento and a maiden call in Monopoli, further south in Italy. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Forward

CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES

From Dutch masterpieces to the crucible of rock’n’roll Gilly Pickup has a ticket to ride on a pre-Christmas trip to the canals of Amsterdam and the musical streets of Hamburg, former home of The Beatles There I was, meandering sedately along one of Amsterdam’s Golden Age waterways on a canal boat. “Look, to the left,” instructed our guide, “the Anne Frank house. One of our city’s most popular attractions. Ah, just look at those queues…” she paused to let her audience take in the line of people stretching all the way from the museum’s front door right round the corner into the distance. “And this is December! Can you imagine the length of queues in summer?" She shook her head dejectedly and I thought for a moment she would burst into tears. Almost immediately

she brightened up again, telling everyone that Amsterdam was one of the world’s most dynamic ports from the 18th to 20th centuries; thatit has more bridges than Venice and that the grachtengordel, the city’s canal belt, is a Unesco-listed treasure. In this city where bikes outnumber humans, we weren’t too surprised to learn that thousands end up in canals every year – bikes, that is, not humans – and the city council dredges the canals regularly with a boat-mounted claw. The one-hour canal trip came to an end outside the Hermitage Museum, founded as a retirement home for

“elderly” women, which in the 17th century meant 50 years old! Now an outpost of Russia’s State Hermitage Museum, on display were 63 works by Dutch Masters from the parent collection in St Petersburg which I visited earlier this year. There are longstanding links between the Netherlands and Russia: Peter the Great, arguably Russia’s greatest ruler, visited Amsterdam in the early 17th century and took the Dutch city’s canals as architectural inspiration for the city that would bear his name. My canal trip and museum visit were included in one of Cruise and

WIN!

A MINI CRUISE FOR TWO WITH CMV p55

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March 2018 | Forward Maritime Voyages shore excursions as part of their pre-Christmas cruise on Columbus. Other optional excursions included a four-hour walking tour of Amsterdam (£30) and a one-hour city tour by tuk-tuk (£37). The 11-deck ship targets mature British passengers, with capacity for 1,400. There aren’t many cabins with balconies – only 64 of 775 – but ocean-view rooms are large with plenty of storage space. The 150 cabins allocated for single travellers reduce the overall capacity, meaning the ship doesn’t feel crowded even when full. There are fixed times for dinner in the Waterfront restaurant, but those who prefer to eat when they want can go to the buffet where there are waiters on hand to bring drinks from the bar. There’s no obligatory service charge on top of drinks. Those who want to splash out a little or celebrate something special can pay extra to eat at the Fusion or Grill restaurants, while the ship has several lounge bars, including the British-themed Taverner’s Pub on deck 7. While I was on board, evening entertainment included a rock’n’roll production in the Palladium Show Lounge; “Diamond Duo” Tatiana and Lara singing classics in Raffles Bar and the cruise director doing his best Elvis impersonation in the Dome Nightclub. During the day, there was something to suit most tastes, from crazy golf, fitness classes and table tennis tournaments to baking gingerbread men, carving fruit and vegetables, towel-folding demonstrations, quizzes and lectures. The second and only other port of call on this short cruise was Hamburg, where as a fan of the Fab Four I was looking forward to the evening Beatles Tour. Before that, a coach took us round some sights including HafenCity, the redeveloped harbour area and Unesco world heritage site. We also stopped off to have a look inside the city’s newest building, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall. This glass structure which stands on top of a former warehouse building offers a magnificent view over Hamburg from its plaza. As darkness fell, it was time to hop on the underground train

Clockwise from above: The Palladium Show Lounge on Columbus; Dutch gables; Speicherstadt in Hamburg’s Hafencity and Amsterdam

to the Reeperbahn in the St Pauli neighbourhood. From there it is a short walk to Beatles-Platz, cleverly paved to look like a vinyl record. There is no denying it, this is a seedy area – sex shops, girly shows and flashing neon lights – but popular

with tourists, and of course the Beatles once called this red-light district home. Stefanie Hempel, our cheerful guide, is founder of the original Beatles walking tour in Hamburg, which she set up 14 years ago. These days other tours

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THREE MINI-CRUISES A weekend in Hamburg

Norwegian Cruise Line – Norwegian Jade Southampton-Hamburg June 29, 2018 From £119pp Embark on Friday night, spend Saturday at sea and disembark on Sunday morning in Hamburg.

Weekend in Dublin

Cruise & Maritime Voyages – Magellan Liverpool-Bristol August 28, 2018 From £219pp Sandwich some Irish craic between two English ports on this taster cruise, which includes full-board cuisine and evening entertainment.

Sojourn on the River Seine

have sprung up but, as far as I know, none of the other guides produces a ukulele and break into Beatles songs at intervals throughout as Stefanie does. She had no information to share about the band that I didn’t already know, but then what is there to say

about the Beatles that hasn’t been said? For this day tripper to Hamburg, it was memorable tour to round off a lovely mini-cruise. London Tilbury-Amsterdam with CMV, from £279pp, departs December 13

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Fred Olsen – Braemar Southampton (round-trip) September 28, 2018 From £549 This mini-cruise explores the medieval French city of Rouen and the Norman port of Honfleur, a favourite with impressionist painters.

CROISIEUROPE

Unlocking the heart of Prague The French lineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new shallow-draft ship can get right to the centre of the ancient capital of Bohemia. Jeannine Williamson sails through the historic Czech lands and along the Elbe to Berlin

March 2018 | Midship We were standing on rocky plateau outside Königstein, one of Europe’s highest fortresses, engrossed by our guide’s tales of lavish parties thrown by Augustus the Strong, the 17th century King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. As well as building a colossal 240,000-litre wine barrel to ensure the bar never ran dry, he also measured the success of his banquets by insisting guests were weighed on the way in and out. If they hadn’t piled on the pounds they were blacklisted from future revelries. As we listened to more colourful tales about the history of the impregnable castle, which dates back to the 13th century, a fellow passenger pointed to the Elbe winding around the foot of the outcrop 240m below. We were delighted to spot our floating home for the week – CroisiEurope’s Elbe Princesse – gliding around the bend with only the motion of the paddlewheels disturbing the water’s silvery blue surface as it headed downstream to meet our coach after the excursion. What made the sight even more remarkable is that it was the only river vessel we’ve seen since setting sail from Prague. And we were to see only one other ship, at the very end of our eight‑night cruise. For anyone who has experienced the Rhine and Danube, rivers which are undoubtedly beautiful but plied with an ever-increasing number of hotel boats, this was a real voyage of discovery. The Elbe, rising in the Czech Republic and flowing over 1,000km through Germany to the North Sea beyond Hamburg, runs between the show-stopping cities of Prague and Berlin, taking in the dramatic craggy scenery of Saxon Switzerland – where Königstein is a high spot in more ways than one – sleepy countryside and a string of Baroque cities. Yet it remains one of Europe’s lesser‑known and least exploited rivers. This is because the low water levels in dry periods make it notoriously tricky to navigate and so the majority of river cruise lines steer well clear. However, CroisiEurope came up with the innovative idea of building a

Königstein towers over the Elbe, which runs from the Czech Republic, through Germany, all the way to the North Sea. Below, the Reichstag in Berlin and the Prague astronomical clock, right.

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March 2018 | Midship vessel with an ultra-shallow draft of just 90cm, and incorporating modern paddlewheel technology to propel it through the shallows. Launched in 2016, the 80-passenger Elbe Princesse has proved so successful that a sister vessel, Elbe Princesse II, debuts this spring. Gabrielle Alam, CroisiEurope’s head of UK sales, explained: “It was the Mississippi’s paddlewheel ships that triggered Patrick Schmitter, CroisiEurope’s operational director and co-owner, to take a closer look at this design. The line is continually innovating and searching for ships that can navigate rivers with occasional very shallow waters, at the same time adhering to modern ecological concerns and the company’s quest for delivering inspiring river-cruising experiences in high-class comfort. “After pioneering with Europe’s first paddlewheel ship on the Loire in 2015, placing another paddlewheel ship onto a river with similar challenges was a natural progression. The ambition was to provide river‑cruise travel from Berlin to Prague all year round. The region is really very scenic in winter and CroisiEurope’s festive and New Year’s Elbe cruises are proving to be just as popular as the rest of the year’s sailing.” It’s unusual to find a cruise bookended by two great cities, but for the first two nights the Elbe Princesse was moored on the Vltava, the tributary of the Elbe, which runs through the heart of Prague. This amounted to a mini-city break, providing ample time to explore. CroisiEurope bucks the trend of the majority of lines by not including excursions, allowing passengers to dip in and out as they want, which is perfect for clients who are on a budget or prefer some independence. As we had already visited Prague in the past, my companion and I waved goodbye to our fellow shipmates as they headed on tours of the city’s highlights, including statue-lined Charles Bridge, the 15th century astronomical clock in the old town square, which comes to life on the hour and Prague Castle, an imposing CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Midship structure overlooking the city, which is the world’s largest ancient stronghold. With the city centre and main attractions within easy walking distance of the ship’s jetty, we stopped at one of the many surprisingly reasonable cafés for lunch before meandering along narrow streets lined with small shops selling local crystalware, puppets and even absinthe. The ship was moored at the foot of a steep hill, with steps to Letná park that we climb for a close-up look at the curious giant red metronome that silently marks time over the city. Standing on the site of a monument to Stalin, the former Soviet leader, which was destroyed in 1962, it was erected in 1991 after the fall of communism and to mark the rhythm of growing democracy. Adding to the rather surreal sight was a line strung with shoes left by skateboarders who congregate in the concrete plaza in front of the structure. This was only the start of a trip that brought new sights and experiences every day. Casting off from Prague the next morning we reached the royal city of Litoměřice, packed with Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance buildings. The excursion included a visit to a micro-brewery to sample some of the beers for which the Czech Republic is so famous. Ensuing days brought us to Dresden, where the landmark Frauenkirche cathedral, painstakingly rebuilt and finally reopened in 2005, is a poignant symbol of the Second World War bombing that reduced the city to rubble. We learned that party animal Augustus the Strong also made his mark in Meissen, home to Germany’s revered fine porcelain of the same name. Obsessed with uncovering the secret of Chinese porcelain that was imported at eye-watering prices he charged his alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger to produce a similar “white gold”. The results were revealed on our tour of the Meissen factory, although you will need to dig deep into your pockets if you fancy a souvenir from the shop. Back on the Elbe Princesse we relaxed in the bright, contemporary

Elbe Princesse and, right, Prague old town

AGENT VERDICT “How we like to sell CroisiEurope’s Elbe itinerary is that its ship moors in Prague city and not elsewhere. This sets it apart from some of the other cruise lines, which moor far out in the countryside, such as at Decin, which is over 100km away from the capital.” Clare Dudley, Ponders Travel

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March 2018 | Midship surroundings. Being a Frenchowned ship, mealtimes were always a highlight, starting from delicious bread and pastries at breakfast through leisurely four-course set lunches and evening meals. Free‑flowing wine at mealtimes and an open bar added to the convivial onboard atmosphere where we mingled with cosmopolitan guests from France, Belgium, Germany and Japan – the latter even organising an impromptu origami folding class one afternoon. In Berlin we moored on Lake Tegel, Germany’s second largest lake, and again decided to do our own thing, taking a short train ride into the city centre and the cultural hub of Potsdamer Platz. After seeing sections of the wall that once divided the city we headed to the relatively new German Spy Museum, an intriguing attraction filled with James Bondstyle gadgets and gizmos. Nearby is the restored Reichstag building, featuring Sir Norman Foster’s iconic domed roof; the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a vast maze-like structure made up of 2,711 columns; and the 12 Doric columns of the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s best-known landmark, which leads on to the pretty Unter den Linden boulevard. It was a fitting end to a cruise along a river that really is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets.

THREE ELBE CRUISES Eight-night Elbe & Vltava Rivers

Nine-night Elegant Elbe

Six-night Beauty of the Elbe

CroisiEurope Berlin-Prague (or reverse) Departures April to October, 2018 From £1,794pp

Viking River Cruises Berlin-Prague (or reverse) July 2, 2018 From £3,905pp

Saga Berlin-Decin April 28, 2018 From £1,149pp

Good value cruise-only pricing with optional excursions including Prague’s breweries, the Meissen porcelain factory and highlights of Berlin.

Two-night pre and post-cruise stays are available in either Prague and Berlin, and other daily excursions are included in the fare.

Exclusive Saga sailing where your fare includes an open bar and two excursions, with the option to book additional guided tours.

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March 2018 | Midship

INFOCUS

Voyages to Antiquity Michelle Daniels explains to Anthony Pearce how the single-ship operator keeps its loyal group of inquisitive travellers educated and entertained “We’ve been investing more in destination,” says Michelle Daniels, head of commercial at Voyages to Antiquity (VTA), which has carved out a niche for itself as the thinking person’s cruise line. Aegean Odyssey, at just 350 guests, is a pretty little ship,with a loyal following and a calendar of intriguing itineraries. “We have a really high repeat customer factor – 57 per cent of guests that travelled last year were repeat customers. It’s important that we look for new destinations to encourage them to come back,” adds Daniels. VTA, which is based in Oxford, attracts academics, teachers and general history buffs who want to learn about the world while they

see it, and its guest lecturers – from institutions such as the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and King’s College London – are a considerable draw. Lectures are given the day before a port of call and experts join guests on land, providing an immersive experience that helps them understand the destinations. The guests are usually aged over 60, retired but both physically and mentally active (the excursions can be “very intense”, says Daniels). “If we get a lecturer who doesn’t know their stuff or is too generic in their delivery, our guests will let them know!” she says, adding that the friendly and intimate atmosphere on board means guests and lecturers

often drink and dine together. The line, unlike many others, has also cracked the solo traveller market, and will increase its dedicated solo cabins from 26 to 39 this year. As “antiquity” implies, the cruise line’s itineraries have traditionally placed an emphasis on ancient ruins – and still do in the likes of Greece and Italy – but VTA has had to adapt. “Before I joined, ancient civilisation was a massive focus for the company: the likes of Syria, Libya, Lebanon, Turkey – all wonderful places which we just can’t get to any more,” says Daniels. “We’ve had to evolve.” While its cruises are still heavily themed around historical and cultural sights, VTA has added many new TIMELINE 2009 VTA launched by industry veteran Gerry Herrod 2010 Aegean Odyssey rebuilt (and renamed) with lower capacity of 350 2016 VTA’s first UK appearance and departure from UK VTA wins Best Specialist Cruise Line at the British Travel Awards 2017 VTA announces first UK summer season of cruises to Iceland and around British Isles VTA wins Best Small Ship Cruise Line at the British Travel Awards 2018 VTA Launches Norwegian fjords itinerary and Aegean Experience overland tours programme

Aegean Odyssey passes Dubrovnik, above, and Naples, top right. Lecturers often dine with guests

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March 2018 | Midship destinations, with an emphasis on natural wonders. Last year, Aegean Odyssey sailed around the UK for the first time (calling into Dover), before heading to Iceland. This year, it will make its debut in the Norwegian fjords, while the Baltics is scheduled for next year. Any new itinerary must “have that intense, historical element which is different to what you might get with mainstream cruise lines”. The cruise line has also expanded its land offerings, having first introduced pre and post-tours last year. “This year, we’ve got our Aegean Experience cruises, which combine a three or four-day land tour to iconic, historic places in Greece, such as Delphi, Mycenae and Epidaurus, before a more traditional Greek islands itinerary.” In Morocco, guests can enjoy a mid-cruise land tour after Casablanca, travelling through the Atlas Mountains before spending a night in a hotel in Marrakech. Daniels says that agents should visit vtaexpert.com and take the training module to become a “luminary”, giving them the opportunity to visit the ship, take fam trips and find out first about offers. With ever more itineraries, surely VTA will soon outgrow its single ship? “Never say never,” says Daniels: while there are no immediate plans to start a fleet she admits that it would be “the ideal next step.”

THREE VTA CRUISES 15 days around Norway

13 days in Dalmatia and Greece

37 days to Egypt and India

London (round-trip) June 23, 2018 From £2,795

Venice-Athens September 25, 2018 From £2,545

Athens-Delhi December 6, 2018 From £6,295

This maiden voyage to Norway has plenty of fjord cruising plus you get to explore the village of Geiranger, port city Bergen and capital Oslo.

From Diocletian's palace in Split to the dramatic scenery of Kotor Bay, this tour also takes in ancient Olympia and the time-warped Greek island of Hydra.

Escape to the sun as winter starts to bite. Christmas Day is spent cruising the Red Sea, en route to Salalah and Muscat in Oman then India.

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FAMILY CRUISES The growth of family cruise has revolutionised a type of holiday once considered a preserve of the elderly. As kids have been welcomed on board, ever more impressive (and often outlandish) facilities have arrived: climbing walls, waterslides, surf simulators, go-karts, games rooms and as well as huge family suites, top-class children’s entertainment, babysitters and day carers. While many cruise lines remain adult-only, the number of cruise ships that welcome kids on board has grown, and there is more variety on offer than ever. Although it’s the largest ships and more mainstream cruise lines that have the best facilities, many accept youngsters, from luxury, river or adventure operators. We’ve spoken to the expert sellers, guests and cruise lines to devise this guide – offering nine options for parents based on their kids’ ages and the time they want to be away.

How old are the children?

Toddlers p43

Pre-teens p44

Teenagers p45

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Toddlers In the past, cruise lines didn’t have the facilities for parents with babies and toddlers, but times have changed. As well as introducing larger, baby-friendly staterooms, some cruise lines have added babysitting facilities, playgroups and shops that sell nappies and other vital supplies. Here we’ve picked three cruises on lines that excel at catering for young kids.

How long do you want to go away for? Less than a week…

A week...

Even longer…

Who? P&O Cruises From? Southampton Where? Belgium and the Netherlands When? October 10, 2018 How long? Five nights How much? From £1,176 for a family of four, inside cabin

Who? Carnival Cruise Line From? New Orleans Where? Western Caribbean When? December 16, 2018 How long? Seven nights

Who? Celebrity Cruises From? Amsterdam Where? Barcelona When? August 30, 2018 How long? 12 nights How much? From £5,520 for a balcony stateroom

This short cruise on P&O Cruises departs and returns to Southampton, making travelling with young ones much easier. For an inside cabin, it’s just £159 for an infant under two, or £300 for a child aged between two and 16. The cruise, which calls at Bruges, includes an overnight in the city of Amsterdam.

Carnival is a market-leader when it comes to toddlers. Kids as young as two can join Camp Carnival and Camp Ocean, the cruise line’s free drop-off clubs. Parents do need to supply nappies and wipes, but kids don’t need to be potty‑trained. There is a group babysitting option until 1am, giving parents the chance to experience the line’s impressive bars and West End-style entertainment.

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This incredible cruise, which takes in the likes of Bilbao, Lisbon and Cádiz, is on the elegant Celebrity Eclipse. For a fee of $19 per hour, for up to two children over 12 months of age within the same family, parents can arrange for a private, in-stateroom babysitter. Parents can also take children under three to Toddler Time, a play session with toys provided where they can play with children of the same age.

Pre-teens Once they get a little older, children need far more entertainment and this is really where family cruise lines come into their own. From kids’ clubs to theatre productions and the wide range of food options, the best cruise ships offer facilities that rival anything on land. What’s great is that they don’t neglect the parents, either. These three options all have fantastic excursions, entertainment and night life.

How long do you want to go away for? Less than a week…

Up to a fortnight…

Even longer…

Who? P&O Cruises From? Southampton Where? Belgium and Guernsey When? April 19, 2018 How long? Four nights How much? From £1,394, inside cabin, family of four

Who? Disney Cruise Line From? Dover Where? Scandinavia When? August 26, 2018 How long? Seven nights How much? From £6,725 for a family of four in an oceanview stateroom

Who? MSC Cruises From? Yokohama, Japan Where? Japan When? August 2, 2018 How long? Eight nights How much? From £2,176 for a family of four in an oceanview stateroom with balcony

Sailing from, and returning to, the UK, this end-of-summer-holidays cruise on Disney takes in the likes of Copenhagen and Oslo. “Tweens” can head to Edge, an interactive play space exclusively for guests ages 11 to 14 featuring music, video and gaming systems. There’s also karaoke, scavenger hunts, themed nights and other special events.

Who says having kids stops you going on adventures? This incredible voyage exploring the east coast of Japan and Vladivostok, Russia, on MSC Splendida proves that’s just not the case. MSC Cruises splits its kids’ facilities between different ages – allowing tweens and younger teens time away from mum and dad in the Young Club (12 to 14-year-olds).

This four-night getaway on P&O Cruises is just £298 for a child aged between two and 16. Calling at St Peter Port and Bruges, it’s a great option for those who want to dip their toes in the cruise waters. Ventura has the Scubas kids’ club for children between nine and 12 years old, with music, consoles, game shows, discos and karaoke.

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Teenagers Teenagers are tricky – difficult to impress and harder still to keep entertained. Fortunately, there are cruise ships to suit all, whether they are sports fanatics, adventure lovers or budding culture buffs. There is more diverse range than many would expect, and we’ve tried to reflect that in our three options. With teenagers likely to take up a lot of room, we’ve chosen suites and larger staterooms.

How long do you want to go away for? Less than a week…

Up to a fortnight…

Even longer…

Who? Royal Caribbean International From? Southampton Where? Bruges When? August 25, 2018 How long? Three nights How much? From £2,596 for four in a junior suite

Who? Star Clippers From? Rome Where? Cannes When? August 18, 2018 How long? Seven nights

Who? Norwegian Cruise Line From? Copenhagen Where? Baltic When? August 9, 2018 How long? Nine nights How much? From £6,076 for a four in a mini‑suite with balcony

This mini-sailing on Independence of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International’s UKbased ship – is a great one for restless teens and, after three nights, they won’t want to leave, with the likes of the FlowRider surf simulator keeping their attention. We’ve picked a junior suite here, but an oceanview stateroom is available for £1,650 for the family.

It’s true that you won’t find raucous parties, go-karts or West End-style productions, but Star Clippers, the tall-ship operator, offer something many teens will love: true sailing adventure. This western Mediterranean cruise at the height of summer will give kids the chance to enjoy watersports and climb the mast to the crow’s nest.

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This Baltic cruise, which calls at the likes of Tallinn and St Petersburg, is on board Norwegian Breakaway, one of the best ships we’ve seen for teens. Entourage, a hangout for 13 to 17-year-olds, has PlayStations, movies, music and sports, including basketball, football and dodgeball. Teens will also love the line’s 24-hour pizza offering.

March 2018 | Midship

10 OF THE BEST

Fantastic beasts… … and where to find them. We reveal the best cruise destinations for wildlife fans 1

Thanks to television programmes such as Blue Planet and Big Cats, our fascination with wildlife has never been greater. But did you know that a cruise can help you see many of the world’s most amazing creatures? From alligators in the Deep South to polar bears in the Arctic, animal magnetism can be a great way to sell a destination.

1. Head for Antarctica’s Snow Hill Island – accessible from November to March – to see the world’s largest colony of emperor penguins with Quark Expeditions. 2. Costa Rica, in Central America, is the perfect place to see sloths, with many lines offering trips to sloth sanctuaries, including MSC Cruises.

3. Svalbard, in the Arctic Circle, is home to the polar bear, the world’s largest land predator. See one between May and September with Hurtigruten. 4. America’s Deep South is famous for its alligators. Snap up a Mississippi river cruise with the American Queen Steamboat Company. 5. Follow in the path of Charles Darwin CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Midship

by studying the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands. Silversea and Celebrity visit the archipelago. 6. Outside Port Elizabeth in South Africa, elephants can be found in the 1,600 sq km Addo National Park, alongside lions, leopards and rhinos. P&O runs cruises in the area. 7. Borneo has many rehabilitation

centres where you can meet one of manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closest relatives in the animal kingdom: the orangutan. Travel there with Princess Cruises. 8. The humpback whale can be found in the seas off Alaska in the summer, having migrated from the south in May. To migrate there yourself, book with Holland America.

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9. Giant crabs can be caught, cooked and eaten in Honnigsvag and Kirkenes, the rugged fishing ports of north Norway. Visit with Viking Cruises. 10. Koalas are best spotted in Australia, obviously. Coral Expeditions offer itineraries to the Great Barrier Reef and the Kimberley, the country's northernmost region.

March 2018 | Aft

TALKING POINT

To tip or not to tip? That is the question Service charge culture varies from country to country and Brits have traditionally had an uneasy relationship with it. Here, we try to clear up some of the confusion Tipping has undoubtedly become a greater of a part of British life over the past decade of so, with many restaurants now placing an optional service charge on the bill, that few would ever think to have removed. Brits have traditionally had an uneasy relationship with the practice and, of course, our tipping culture differs dramatically to the US, where certain industries are reliant on it. In part, this is due to the difference in minimum wage. In restaurants in the US some staff earn as little as $2.13 an hour, plus whatever they make in tips, but in the UK where the minimum wage is higher, we see tipping as an added extra, rather than a necessary charge. In ignorance, Brits in America often land themselves in hot water by leaving a smaller tip than is expected, and cruise lines – most of which are

American-owned – can be something of a minefield, too. Staff on cruise ships earn less than they would on land in the UK, so tips are often needed to bump up their wages. Broadly speaking, cruise lines don’t let guests tip in the traditional sense any longer, given that cruise ships are virtually cash-free with credit cards registered to room keys (see below for more about how onboard currency works), meaning that tips are either added per day (and paid at the end of the cruise), or included in the price of the cruise. The cost depends on the line: on P&O Cruises it’s currently £6 a day, but this is set to rise to £7 from March 23; on Fred Olsen it’s £4; on Princess Cruises it’s $12.95 – the weak pound clearly making a big difference here. It’s mostly the luxury end of the market (Azamara Club Cruises, Crystal and Regent,

Seabourn and Silversea, for example) that includes the tip in the price. On river ships, some include all tips (Tauck and Uniworld for example), while others just include tips for onboard staff (Avalon includes tips for the ship staff but not local guides and drivers). On Riviera Travel, for example, €5 to €10 per person, per day is encouraged (but at guests’ discretion). An envelope is left in cabins on the final evening of the cruise, for guests to drop off at reception, should they want – a system that was once widely used across the industry. Your advice for your customers? Always check with the line. On some premium, but not all-inclusive, lines, the charge can be quite high – and it can come as a bit of a surprise at the end of the week, especially if you’re not expecting it.

ONBOARD CURRENCY The lion’s share of cruise lines are US-owned and the currency used onboard these ships is dollars, even if you’re in Europe. Of course, with the pound so weak, drinks and gratuities are now more expensive than they were before. Cruise lines don’t accept cash on the ship, except when settling the account (for this they will often accept euros), but it’s worth noting that many lines will only let you register a credit, not debit, card to the account. This is the easiest and more sensible way to pay, and will eliminate the risk of a situation where you haven’t got the cash to pay your bill. One of the joys of allinclusive cruises is knowing you can indulge as much as you like and not worry about the bill on at the end.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Aft

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

CRUISE LINES!

Information missing or out of date? Email info@cruise-adviser.com

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Aft

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

A-Rosa Lucia Rowe, head of sales UK and Ireland 078 4202 6013 l.rowe@a-rosa.de Amadeus River Cruises Amadeus River Cruises Natalie O’Mahoney, head of sales 0800 035 6411 natalie@fredrivercruises.co.uk AmaWaterways Jamie Loizou, sales, marketing and digital director 033 3305 3902 jamieloizou@amawaterways.com American Cruise Lines Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 453 6800 susan@americancruiselines.com American Queen Steamboat Company Katrina Weston, general manager 01223 568 904 k.weston@aqgsa.com APT Touring Kate Ashman, sales and commercial specialist 01494 736 147 agentclub@aptouring.co.uk Atlas/Kompas Predrag Krivokapic, president +1 954 258 8531 / +385 9 1975 1735 kompas@kompas.net Aurora Expeditions Talia Schwartzman, sales executive +61 2 9252 1033 agents@auroraexpeditions.co.uk Craig Upshall, sales director UK/Europe 07824 305 232 craig@auroraexpeditions.co.uk Avalon Waterways Janet Parton, sales director 020 8315 4545 agencysales@avaloncruises.co.uk Azamara Club Cruises Lori Scanella, business support executive 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com

Carnival Cruise Line Luke Smith, head of UK & international sales 020 7378 4660 carnivalsalesuk@carnival.com Celebrity Cruises Isabelle Charlton / Victoria Shipp 01932 834 379 (option 2) salessupport@rccl.com Celestyal Cruises Marios Polydorou, senior manager sales +30 216 400 9631 m.polydorou@celestyalcruises.gr Choosing Cruising Robbie White, managing director 07740 368 379 robbie@choosingcruising.co.uk Coral Expeditions Jan Jepsen, UK and Europe representative 07702 714 150 jan@intouchrep.com Cosmos Janet Parton, sales director 020 8315 4545 agencysales@cosmos.co.uk CroisiEurope John Fair, sales director 020 8328 1281 jfair@croisieurope.com Cruise & Maritime Voyages Lisa Jacobs, head of trade sales 0844 414 6140 lisa.jacobs@cruiseandmaritime.com Crystal Cruises Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk Cruising Excursions Simonne Fairbanks, chief operating officer 0800 091 8274 traveltrade@cruisingexcursions.com Cunard Line Victoria Snelgar, business manager – sales operations 07773 253 279 victoria.snelgar@cunard.co.uk

Belmond Alexis Viols, director of sales – Road to Mandalay and Belmond Orcaella +66 2 267 4881 2 Ext 19 alexis.viols@belmond.com

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Aft

Hebridean Island Cruises Lisa White, reservations manager 01756 704 704 lisa.white@hebridean.co.uk Heritage Line Emma Wild, head of sales 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com Holland America Line James Scott, business development representative 0344 338 8600 james.scott@hollandamerica.co.uk Lucy Harris, business development representative 0344 338 8600 lucy.harris@hollandamerica.co.uk Hurtigruten Anthony Daniels, head of sales 020 8846 2666 anthony.daniels@hurtigruten.com

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

Emerald Waterways Lewis Quigley, trade marketing executive 0161 233 1988 lewis.quigley@scenic.co.uk European Waterways Mark Robinson, sales and reservations manager 01753 598 555 sales@europeanwaterways.com eWaterways Emma Wild, head of sales 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com

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

Far Horizon Hannah Logan, UK sales manager 0800 035 3189 hannah@fredrivercruises.co.uk Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Hannah Logan, UK sales manager 0800 035 3189 hannah@fredrivercruises.co.uk Fred Olsen River Cruises Brooke Daniels, UK sales manager 0800 021 3172 brooke@fredrivercruises.co.uk French America Line Kevin Griffin, director 020 7723 2450 kcgriffin@frenchamericaline.com

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

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

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

Latin Routes Jessica Bain, director 020 8546 6222 info@latinroutes.co.uk Leger Holidays Ashley Dellow, head of retail sales 01709 385 811 retail.sales@leger.co.uk Lindblad Expeditions Jacinta McEvoy vice president global sales +1 212 261 9000 jacintam@expeditions.com

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

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Aft

Paul Gaugin Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk Pearl Seas Cruises Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 458 5280 susan.shultz@pearlseascruises.com Ponant Stephen Winter, international sales director 0800 980 4027 swinter@ponant.com Poseidon Expeditions Alexandra Prokopyeva, sales and marketing 020 3808 7787 sales@poseidonexpeditions.com Ports Direct Karl Lapage, managing director 0843 0843 003 karl@portsdirect.co.uk Princess Cruises Sales Support 02380 656607 academy@princesscruises.co.uk Pullmantur Simon Chambers, operations manager 0800 021 3180 simon.chambers@fredholidays.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

P&O Cruises Brodie McIntosh, trade engagement manager 023 8065 5780 brodie.mcintosh@cunardpocruises.com Pandaw Marco Rosa, vice president sales and marketing 07973 876 967 marco@pandaw.com

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Aft

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

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

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

Variety Cruises Chris Lorenzo, managing director, Seafarer Cruises 020 8324 3114 info@seafarerholidays.co.uk Victoria Cruises Tom Antonucci, sales manager +1 212 818 1680 tom@victoriacruises.co.uk Viking Cruises Andrew Schweitzer, regional sales manager (south) 07825 986 996 andrew.schweitzer@vikingcruises.com Jenny Wade, regional sales manager (north) 07966 995 012 jenny.wade@vikingcruises.com Volga Dream Hannah Logan, UK sales manager 0800 035 3189 hannah@fredrivercruises.co.uk Voyages to Antiquity Michelle Daniels, head of groups and partnerships 01865 302 2565 m.daniels@voyagestoantiquity.com

Tauck Kathryn Coles, UK and Ireland sales manager 080 0810 8020 tauckreservations@tauck.co.uk Titan Travel Edwina Coppock, agency sales manager 012 9345 0726; 078 3465 2135 edwina.coppock@titantravel.co.uk Travel2 Colin Currie, head of sales 07891 257 160 colin.currie@travel2.com

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

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Aft THINGS TO DO

GAMESROOM

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

CROSSWORD See the next cruise adviser in April for the answers

JAN / FEB SOLUTION

ACROSS

DOWN

7. Old Man River (11) 8. It supports ships (5) 9. Invested (4) 12. Ali was this, he said (3,8) 14. Flag (4) 15. Former capital of Lorraine (5) 19. Journeyman? (6,5)

1. Where you should not find any Forces (2,1) 2. Russian leader (4) 3. Feasts (7) 4. Employ (3) 5. Idiots may not be quick on this (6) 6. Entrance passes (7) 10. Island between Montserrat and Anguilla (2,5) 11. Home to Thunderball Grotto (7) 13. He ascended on a whirlwind (6) 16. No cruise without these guys (4) 17. Dead or Red, maybe (3) 18. Hole in the wall (1,1,1)

SUDOKU

See the next cruise adviser in April for the answers

5 7

3 6

5 3

5 7

2 8

4 6

5 9

JAN / FEB SOLUTION 1

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Aft

QUIZ

WIN! Christmas markets cruise with CMV

See bottom of page for answers

1. The US boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics held in which city? 2. Astral Weeks is the second studio album by which Northern Irish singer-songwriter? 3. Which cruise line owns the nextgeneration Seaside class vessels? 4. What is the capital of US state Texas? 5. Rihanna was born on which Caribbean island? 6. The Scott Trust owns which London-based newspaper? 7. The North Star is a feature on which cruise line’s Quantum-class ships? 8. Jude the Obscure and Far from the Madding Crowd are books by which author?

Win a cruise for two on Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ three-night Christmas Market & Festive Getaway itinerary. The cruise departs from London Tilbury on December 17, 2018 on Columbus.

9. Candy floss inventor William Morrison had what day job? 10. Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was born on which island?

To enter, answer the following question and send your answer to info@cruise-adviser.com with the subject line as ‘March competition’.

11. What was the first European City of Culture back in 1985? 12. What was the name of Princess Cruises’ first ever ship?

What is the name of Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ flagship?

13. Phantom Thread will reportedly be which multi-award winning actor’s final film appearance?

Terms and conditions apply, see cruise-adviser. com/terms-conditions. The prize excludes: travel insurance; travel joining costs to the Cruise Terminal at Tilbury; port parking; onboard expenditure of a personal nature; any visa and health certificate charges that may apply; crew service charges/ gratuities which will be automatically billed to your onboard account at £7pp per night

14. Which fictional family live on 742 Evergreen Terrace? 15. Torstein Hagen is the chairman of which cruise line?

QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Moscow. 2. Van Morrison. 3. MSC Cruises. 4 Austin. 5 Barbados. 6. The Guardian. 7. Royal Caribbean International. 8. Thomas Hardy. 9 Dentist. 10 Madeira. 11 Athens. 12. Princess Patricia. 13. Daniel Day Lewis. 14. The Simpsons. 15. Viking Cruises.

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

March 2018 | Aft

RECIPE

In the galley

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

The best recipes to be found at sea. This month: Carnival Cruise Line’s warm chocolate melting cake Ingredients (serves one) 170g dark chocolate 170g butter 4 eggs (room temperature) 170g sugar 55g flour Method Melt the chocolate and butter. Mix the eggs and sugar and whisk for few minutes, add the flour. Add the egg mixture to the melted chocolate and mix together. Pour the mix in a greased mold. Bake directly in the oven at 200 degrees Celcius for 14 minutes. Serve with ice cream and a fresh fruit garnish.

VEGAN CRUISING Last year, Cruise & Maritime Voyages became the first operator to run a vegan-only cruise, removing all animal products from its ship, Marco Polo, for the week-long itinerary. Veganism has grown in the UK over the last decade and the demand is there. But how do vegans get on when sailing on standard cruises? “Vegan meal options and awareness of special diets have improved in the last few years,” says Sanna Burns, who blogs at vegancruiser.co.uk, but she notes that some lines are better than others. “It is hardly a surprise that my number one pick is Oceania Cruises. They are famous for being the cruise line for foodies, so naturally their vegan offering is to a similarly impeccable standard. Oceania’s vegan menu came out less than a year ago and it is simply stunning: the menu offers 250 dishes rotated over 14 days.” She also says that “P&O are also known to be very vegan-friendly among UK vegan cruisers”. “They serve a selection of plant milks, dairy-free spread, vegan ‘bacon’, cheese and yoghurt at breakfast and ever so excitingly, vegan, dairy-free ice cream and vegan options at afternoon tea,” she says. She adds that these items are “much missed on other cruise lines”.

Shell Paterson, a travel agent at Flight Centre who is vegan, travelled on Carnival Cruise Line last year and was impressed by the line’s flexibility. “If I called the restaurant ahead of time the chef would cook up a nice vegan option for me, even at the steakhouse. The staff were knowledgeable and excellent at answering questions I had about the different food and ingredients,” she says. She notes that

lunch and breakfast wasn’t always so easy, while Burns agrees that “on ships with no vegan menu, you will generally need to discuss next day’s dinner with the head waiter and pre-order meals with 24 hours’ notice”. “Vegan desserts can be hard to come by,” Burns adds, “although Princess cruises, even without a fleet-wide vegan menu, served us proper desserts each night on Royal Princess.”

CRUISE-ADVISER.COM

Explore

GLOBE

Issue One

December 2016

CRUISE ADVISER THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

PREVIEW EDITION

D E C E M B E R 2016

CRUISE ADVISER

F E AT U RE S | R O OM SE RVI C E ME N U | S H O R E E XC U R S I O NS

ISSUE ONE

FEBRUARY 2016

CRUISE ADVISER

EX-UK 2016

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

WATERMARK

ADVENTURE 2016

YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST HOLIDAYS IN THE WORLD

EX-UK GUIDE 2016–2017

ADVENTURE 2016

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

RIVER GUIDE

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

Solus

I SSUE 0NE

HURTIGRUTEN

HOW TO SELL

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

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

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

Our unique walkthrough guide featuring 14 fantastic adventure cruises

P30

P24

P 36

P40

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

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

Issue two

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

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

CA-7

CRUISE ADVISER

WONDERFUL WORLD FOUR BUCKET-LIST STOPS

FIRE & ICE

thetravelvillage

APRIL 2016

LUXURY 2016

ON THE HORIZON THE LATEST CRUISE NEWS

EMERALD WATERWAYS AN IN-DEPTH LOOK

thecruisevillage

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

CRUISE ADVISER

CRUISE & MORE HOLIDAYS OF A LIFETIME

CA-10

FJORD FOCUS A JOURNEY TO WEST NORWAY

AMERICAN QUEEN

Eastern promises Sailing Asia’s majestic Mekong with APT Touring

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

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

Issue three

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

COPENHAGEN WITH CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES

EXTENSIVE EX-UK DEPARTURE LISTINGS

EUROSTAR RIVER CRUISE SPECIAL

INTERVIEW: P&O’ CRUISES' PAUL LUDLOW

–

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

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

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

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

EMERALD EXPLORER

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

Win!

SEABOURN

FAMILY

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

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

P 30

P15

issue 3

CRYSTAL CRUISES

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

P22

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

CA-8

CA-9

SCENIC

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

thevillagepost

vouchers

issue 2

thevillagepost

LUXURY GUIDE 2016

£100

WINE COUNTRY WITH UNIWORLD

INFOCUS: EMERALD WATERWAYS

UNUSUAL RIVERS SPECIAL

UNIQUE HOW TO SELL GUIDE

A new trade magazine from the team at cruise adviser

CRUISE ADVISER

ISSUE TWO

TITLE

Issue two | Section Name

Issue three

Page 1

CRUISE ADVISER

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

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

DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2017

MARCH 2017

PREVIEW GUIDE 2016

Where next for cruise?

PREVIEW GUIDE 2016

The new ships, destinations and innovations arriving in 2017

FJORD FIESTA

FROM THE TEAM

CA-6

THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES

CRUISE ADVISER

CRUISE ADVISER APRIL 2017

SOLUS

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

Norway with Cruise & Maritime Voyages

INSIDE

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

Win! A CMV CRUISE for two on

PLUS

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

Columbus

HAVANA CLUB

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

Cuba with Star Clippers

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JUNE 2017

JULY / AUGUST 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017

ROMAN

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HOLIDAY

A TITAN CRUISE See page 54

Princess Cruises in the Mediterranean

NEW TO CRUISE SPECIAL

MAY 2017

APRIL 2017

HOW TO FIND FIRST-TIME GUESTS

GREEK ODYSSEY

THE

FRENCH

CONNECTION

Jeannine Williamson joins Viking Sky in Rhodes

CMV’S NEW FLAGSHIP

WE JOIN COLUMBUS IN TILBURY

MERAVIGLIA LAUNCHES

MSC’S EXPANSION CONTINUES

Jeannine Williamson joins Uniworld in Paris

ENDS OF THE EARTH

ADVENTURE ON THE DOURO

THE 5 MOST INNOVATIVE ROOMS AT SEA

By Gary Buchanan PLUS:

Daniel Allen travels along the Mekong with Scenic

By Adam Coulter

HOW TO SELL RIVER CRUISE

PLUS OCEAN MEDALLION: GAME-CHANGING TECH

ABTA ON BREXIT

THE GREAT SHORE EXCURSION DEBATE

WOMEN IN CRUISE SPECIAL

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

VIETNAM

By Gilly Pickup

SILVER MUSE: FIRST LOOK

Adam Coulter explores Chile’s rugged wilderness

GOOD MORNING

THE JOYS OF MINI-CRUISE

By Katherine Lawrey

GILES HAWKE ON THE COSMOS RELAUNCH

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

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

CA-15

CA-14

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OCTOBER 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

DECEMBER 2017

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CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES

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F E AT U R E S | R O O M S E RVIC E M E NU | S H O R E E XC U R S IO NS

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

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M A R C H 2018 JA N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y 201 8

GLOBE

SA I LI N G I NTO A N E W

SELECTION

Exploring the Galápagos Islands – the land that time forgot

PICTURE

PERFECT

How cruise lines can capture millennials – the selfie generation

PLUS TOP 10: SPECIALITY RESTAURANTS PLAN A CRUISE MONTH PREVIEW AMSTERDAM DESTINATION FOCUS

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

GOLDEN AGE OF CRUISE

The new launches, innovations and destinations to look forward to in 2018 PLUS VIKING RIVER CRUISES ON THE DANUBE HOW TO SELL: YOUR FIRST CRUISE PORTS OF CALL: SYDNEY

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

EMPIRE OF THE SUN A TRIP DOWN MEXICO WAY 02

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

WATERFRONT CREATES BEAUTIFUL MAGAZINES FOR THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY. Email info@waterfront-publishing.com to find out more, or call 020 3865 9360.

March 2018 | Aft

FINAL WORD

Is it time to step outside the echo chamber? As Abta holds its first event dedicated to first-time cruisers, Sam Ballard says that looking outside the existing industry network is vital to attracting new customers This month, Abta will be holding its very first event dedicated to first-time cruise passengers, in association with Clia. The conference promises to give agents the tools they will need to “appeal to the growing market of travellers of all ages and demographics who have not traditionally considered cruising”. This is interesting for a number of reasons, but primarily represents the wider travel industry taking notice of the growth of cruise. Abta cites the numbers: 14 per cent of UK holidaymakers plan on taking a cruise in the next 12 months – almost double the number that went on one in the past 12 months, according to the association’s Travel Trends report. The potential is clearly huge. But, how the industry gets beyond 1.9 million ocean cruise passengers is one that has so far eluded us. The question that this all boils down to is: how do travel agents get

those who want to take a cruise to book a cruise. And, perhaps more pressingly, to book it through them? As an agent, it’s unlikely that this will be the first time you have been told about the importance of the newto-cruise market. However, Abta’s session promises more of a deep dive here, particularly around the area of using customer insight “to identify new customers and pair them with the correct cruise product”. There will be a whole session dedicated to it during the one-day event in London. This is going to be crucial. While we definitely do not subscribe to the ridiculous theory that “a cruise is not for me” (you would never say that about hotels), but book a client on the wrong ship and you will have lost them forever. However, as industry repeat booking rates attest, get it right and you will have someone who wants to book their cruise holiday with you time and time again.

This is what makes events like this an exciting prospect. The line-up of speakers includes some of the big names in cruise (Andy Harmer, Clia’s UK boss, Stuart Leven, Royal Caribbean’s VP EMEA and Alex White, vice president of sales & distribution for P&O Cruises) but also non-cruise executives such as Sebastian Pichon, who is the industry manager for travel at web giant Google. One of the best things about the cruise industry is how close it is. Competitors will discuss strategy while sitting on panels at conferences and are often found having a drink in the bar afterwards. However, perhaps it’s time that the cruise industry steps outside the echo chamber that this goodwill has created. We might just learn something. Abta’s Attracting First Time Cruisers Conference is at the UK Chamber of Shipping in London on March 14

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