AU R O R A E X P E D I T I O N S | R I T Z - C A R L TO N | C R Y S TA L R I V E R C R U I S E S
THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES
N O V E M B E R 2018
Dive in Down Under James Litston casts off with Coral Expeditions to encounter the rich, diverse marine life of the Great Barrier Reef
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November 2018 | Forward EDITOR’S LETTER
The heady blend of adventure and luxury Beautiful but fragile, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders. But, as coral bleaching occurs on an unprecedented scale, and global ocean temperatures continue to rise, its future is unsure. Yet for those who want to see this incredible sight without damaging it further, there are ways. Joining small-ship specialists Coral Expeditions in Queensland, James Litston Dive in finds that adventure is possible while stepping lightly. Down Under In his cover feature, beginning p40, he details why this long-haul cruise is among the best options out there – and how tourism and conservation can go hand in hand. As ever, it’s been an exciting month in the world of cruise: in this issue, Sara Macefield reports from Clia’s first-ever Luxury conference in Malaga (p15), while Sam Ballard joins Clia’s expedition cruise roundtable in London (p24) – both of which are markets of huge growth and innovation, especially when luxury and adventure are paired together. That’s the case with recent Clia-joinees Aurora Expeditions, which attended the luxury gathering and is the subject of our monthly In Focus feature (p32). In it, Sara Macefield chats to Robert Halfpenny and Craig Upshall, managing director and UK & Europe sales director, respectively, of the Australian adventure company, who are looking to increase their presence in the UK market. As ever, there’s news, fam trips and new hires, as well as our comprehensive directory section, plus there’s a chance to win return flights to South America with Europa Air.
THIS MONTH WHAT WE LEARNT
P24
AU R O R A E X P E D I T I O N S | R I T Z - C A R L TO N | C R Y S TA L R I V E R C R U I S E S
THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES
N O V E M B E R 2018
James Litston casts off with Coral Expeditions to encounter the rich, diverse marine life of the Great Barrier Reef
NEW CRUISE SEGMENTS ARE EMERGING The industry and customers alike are falling for expedition cruises
P32
AURORA TARGETS THE UK MARKET The adventure expedition specialist is working to raise awareness across the UK of its intrepid itineraries
P37
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PADDLEBOAT GETS A MAKEOVER American Queen Steamboat Company fuses the old-world charm of paddle steamers with contemporary style and service
The American Duchess, p37
Contents MIDSHIP 28
Interview: Crystal River Sam Ballard hears how the line has elevated river cruising to luxury effect
34
Ritz-Carlton The hotel giant is making waves in the cruise industry, finds Sara Macefield
40
Coral Expeditions James Litson dives in down under on a short cruise to the Great Barrier Reef
32
Infocus: Aurora Expeditions Sara Macefield meets the brains behind this growing Aussie adventure company
37
American Duchess Jane Archer is the first UK journalist onboard this new minimalist paddleboat
45
How to sell: pre & post Tag on a stay before or after a cruise to make the most of a destination
CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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November 2018 | Forward
FORWARD 3
Ed’s letter
10
News Cunard joins P&O on Shine Rewards Scheme; Uniworld launches new boutique ships; MSC announces move into ultra-luxury market
20
New crew The big cruise industry hires this month
21
Fam trips / incentives We round up all the latest incentives and agent news
24
Clia roundtable Sam Ballard sits down with industry insiders to discover what’s driving rapid growth in expedition cruising
Cover image credit: Tourism and Events Queensland
AFT 58
49
Directory All the cruise line contact details in one place
54
Games room Unwind with our crossword, challenge yourself with sudoku, or attempt our quiz
Final word Sam Ballard looks at how Virgin Voyages is piquing industry interest with a model targeted at next-generation cruisers that places health, wellness and green travel in the spotlight
56
Recipe The best recipes to be found at sea. This month: MSC Cruises’ glazed pluma of Iberian pork with vegetables
Email info@cruise-adviser.com to share your thoughts
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Launching our 2020 boutique cruise collection Fantastic news! Our 2020 itineraries are on sale from November 19th for our luxurious boutique ship Spirit of Discovery – and her even newer sister, Spirit of Adventure. From Arctic expeditions to Greenland and Svalbard to cruises to the Amalfi Coast, Venice, the USA and the Caribbean, it’s our most exciting calendar of cruises ever.
It’s just the start of the premium value for money you’ll enjoy, with an included chauffeur service up to 250 miles each way, speciality dining, gratuities, free Wi-Fi and much more.
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Launching Spirit of Adventure
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NEWS
Do you have a story for us? Email info@cruise-adviser.com
CUNARD
Good news for agents as Cunard joins Shine Rewards Club Incentive scheme now twice as rewarding with points from both Cunard and P&O
Shine Rewards Club has welcomed a new member in luxury line Cunard. The reward and recognition programme is dedicated exclusively to travel agents, who can now combine the points they earn from both Cunard and P&O Cruises and exchange them for a range of rewards. Points can be earned in a variety of ways, from making a Cunard Fare booking to completing training modules. Cunard’s addition to the club means enhanced rewards from the cruise line’s brand partners, including Pickering’s 3 Queens Gin, Laurent-Perrier Champagne and
Godiva chocolates, but the ultimate reward is a Cunard cruise. These join designer goods, experience days and technology products in the rewards up for grabs. Travel agent partners are able to register for Cunard Shine Rewards Club now, and from December 3 they will be eligible to enter their Cunard Fare bookings to earn points. Gary Anslow, Cunard sales director, commented on the enormous success of the programme since its launch and the positive feedback from agents. “[The programme] will increase awareness of our exceptional ships, itineraries and White Star
Service, all of which set Cunard as the benchmark for luxury travel.” P&O Cruises’ vice president of sales and distribution Alex DelamereWhite said: “It’s great to see Shine Rewards Club welcome a new brand on board. We can’t wait to be collectively rewarding agents for their support and loyalty for both P&O Cruises and now Cunard. With more brands come more points, and more points mean more rewards for agents.” In the past year, 10,000 agents have benefitted from Shine Rewards. Agents can register online at shinerewardsclub.com.
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November 2018 | Forward PRINCESS CRUISES
Southampton ceremony for Enchanted Princess
The christening marks the line’s biggest European season ever in 2020 The naming ceremony for Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Enchanted Princess, will be held in Southampton in late June 2020. It is the first of their ships to be named in the UK since Royal Princess in 2013 and demonstrates the line’s commitment to the UK market. The ceremony is part of Princess’s biggest European season ever, which will see three ships sailing a full season from Southampton. Available capacity will be up by 15 per cent on 2019 and a total of 1.4 million cruise
nights will be on offer from the UK – an increase of 30 per cent on 2019. The 3,080-guest Crown Princess will sail for 150 days from Southampton, covering May to November, visiting the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and northern Europe. In addition, the 2,200-guest Island Princess will spend June to October sailing from
Southampton to northern Europe, while the 3,560-guest Regal Princess will head around Britain to Liverpool, Belfast, Dublin and Edinburgh from May to September. The 3,660-guest Sky Princess, which launches next year, will spend its first spring and summer season sailing a Scandinavia and Russia round-trip from Copenhagen.
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RIVER CRUISES
November 2018 | Forward UNIWORLD
Four new ships for Uniworld
River line to build ships for the Nile, Douro, Mekong and Volga River cruise line Uniworld will introduce four new ships to its awardwinning fleet of floating boutique hotels over the next three years. The ships will launch on the Nile in Egypt, the Douro in Portugal and the Mekong in Vietnam in 2020. A year later, the fourth ship will launch on the Volga in Russia. Each ship replaces an existing vessel in each destination, elevating the levels of comfort, luxury and design available. Uniworld president and CEO Ellen Bettridge said: “We are delighted
to bring our unique and elegantly designed one-of-a-kind vessels to the rivers in Egypt, Portugal, Vietnam and Russia for the first time. We strive to provide our discerning guests with an unforgettable river cruise experience both on and offshore, therefore we have plans to offer our one-of-a-kind ships on our
popular itineraries along the Nile, Douro, Mekong and the Volga. With a beautiful upgrade of the River Countess also planned for 2020, our brand is truly innovating and these new developments demonstrate that Uniworld will always be ahead of the competition as the luxury leader in river cruising.”
VIRGIN VOYAGES
CROISIEUROPE
NORWEGIAN
Cuba added to ports of call for new ship
MS Amalia Rodrigues to launch on the Douro
Limited £99 round-trip airfare offer
Virgin Voyages’ first ship, Scarlet Lady, will feature Cuba on its itinerary when it launches in 2020. The decision to cruise to Cuba follows customer and travel partner research conducted in North America and the UK, which found the Caribbean island ranked among the most desired and interesting destinations people want to visit. The sailings feature an overnight stay in Havana, enabling customers to experience the capital city’s rich culture and vibrant nightlife. Manuel Marrero Cruz, minister of tourism for Cuba, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with … the Virgin Group and are pleased to announce this new partnership with Virgin Voyages.”
CroisiEurope will inaugurate its newest ship – the MS Amalia Rodrigues – in Porto in March 2019. Built at the Meuse and Sambre shipyard in Namur, it is the sixth ship to join CroisiEurope’s fleet on the Douro and its third premiumrated ship on the Golden River. The ship is 80m long and 11.4m wide and can accommodate 132 passengers in 66 double-occupancy cabins, including four suites, two of which are on the upper deck and have terraces. There is also a cabin for guests with reduced mobility. The ship will cruise six and eight-day itineraries through the Douro Valley from Porto to Regua, Pinhao, Teron Vega, Barca d’Alva, Salamanca and Ferradosa.
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced a £99/€99 round-trip airfare offer on reservations from more than 25 European gateways to their ships in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Rome. The offer is available for a limited time from November 15. “It is about enhancing our guests’ holiday experience by providing even more freedom and flexibility, allowing them a hassle-free way to plan their air and sea travels,” said Harry Sommer, executive vice president, business development, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “With three award-winning ships sailing in Europe during summer and spring 2019, we offer a variety of unique itineraries.” CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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November 2018 | Forward MSC CRUISES
MSC to enter the ultra-luxury market
CARNIVAL
Agents sought to be Fun Ambassadors Carnival Cruise Line UK is on the lookout for agents from across the industry to be Fun Ambassadors. Carnival Fun Ambassadors give the line advice, ideas and feedback in exchange for benefits such as all-expenses-paid trips to Ibiza and Miami and Loyalty Rocks points. Agents have until November 30 to apply. Just visit carnivalfa.com and let them know why it is fun being a travel agent.
FRED RIVER CRUISES
New UK GSA for American Cruise Lines
The line orders four new ships in a €2 billion deal as a natural evolution of the successful MSC Yacht Club MSC Cruises has announced that it is to launch four ultra-luxury ships in a deal said to be worth about €2 billion. The first vessel, which will have 500 cabins, will launch in 2023. The remaining ships will come into service one per year. Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ executive chairman, said: “It is off the back of the great success of our ship-within-a-ship luxury concept that our guests asked us to enter into the ultra-luxury segment, as a natural evolution of the MSC Yacht Club. These ships will be able to offer unique itineraries, thanks to their size, and the guest services will be taken to another level, including our personalised MSC Yacht Club butler service, available 24/7.” Vago continued, “I am especially pleased to be able to further extend our partnership with Fincantieri through this new order. The awardwinning Seaside and Seaside-Evo class have already been recognised
as groundbreaking and innovative designs. We are now introducing another new class, which will establish a new standard of ultraluxury at sea with ships that will showcase the quality and highest standards that are associated with Made in Italy.” Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated: “It is with pride that two great brands – an Italian one and one with a strong Italian DNA – well-known all over the world, announce an important construction programme. We are extremely satisfied that, to launch a new class of ships in the luxury segment, MSC Cruises has recognised that our design will help them create a new generation of ships that will be cutting edge both in terms of safety and technological content, and with particular attention paid to passenger comfort. With this project Fincantieri can count on 53 cruise ships in its order book, confirming its position as market leader.”
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Fred River Cruises has announced that they are the official UK general sales agent for American Cruise Lines and will be introducing UK audiences to a wide array of American river cruises. Featuring 35 sailings across 25 states, American Cruise Lines is an exciting addition to the Fred portfolio and looks set to be hugely popular among UK travellers seeking to experience true American culture. All sailings can be booked with transatlantic flights as well as pre and/or post stays.
AZAMARA
New City Stays launched with Cox & Kings Azamara Club Cruises has launched the new City Stays programme, in collaboration with Cox & Kings, the world’s leading luxury tour operator. City Stays are available before and after sailings and offer curated travel experiences with emphasis on local connections, allowing Azamara guests additional time to explore their iconic arrival or departure ports.
November 2018 | Forward HURTIGRUTEN
OPINION
Stay a step ahead with new offerings Janet Parton, sales director, Avalon Waterways
As the popularity of cruising continues to grow, so too does the demand for evermore diverse itineraries that take customers further afield to exotic, far-flung and remote destinations. With Clia UK & Ireland reporting 25 million passengers travelling annually aboard Clia cruise lines worldwide (of which 210,400 were on river cruises in 2017), and in the knowledge that travellers are becoming increasingly confident in their globetrotting adventures, it is clear that operators need to continue to evolve their product offering each year to keep ahead of the curve.
“It’s really important that agents quickly familiarise themselves with the new product coming to market” There are some specialist expedition cruise operators launching vessels with facilities such as a multisensory underwater viewing lounge. Others are developing small-ship programmes that span all continents to help travellers enjoy adventure-focused itineraries. They reach isolated destinations such as the Seychelles, remote Indonesian islands like Sumba and Moyo, or the icy reaches of Svalbard and Antarctica. Elsewhere, focus rests on expanding exotic river cruise product offerings to feature new waterways across Africa, Asia and South America.
At Avalon, we’ve responded to the growth of demand for exotic holidays by introducing new routes and ships, and our long-haul river cruise collection is now available to book for departures through to midApril 2020 for locations including Peru, Cambodia and Ecuador. The Avalon Saigon recently launched on the Mekong, and, seeing a 27 per cent rise in Britons taking cruises on Indian waterways, we are excited to introduce the Ganges for 2019. As the industry develops to offer these more advanced and exotic itineraries, it’s really important that agents work to quickly familiarise themselves with the new product coming to market, so that they are knowledgeable about the diversity of itineraries on sale. It’s all about keeping up the positive momentum that cruising is experiencing. We need to work together as an industry to continue to collectively challenge the perception of cruise holidays and showcase that they are one of the best ways to explore some of the harderto-reach corners of the globe. Attending regular cruise industry events such as the annual Clia Conference is a great way for the trade to keep up to date on new developments, and it’s exciting to see Clia announce that it will hold its inaugural expedition-cruise-focused event in 2019. With its London debut next March, the Expedition Cruise Forum will certainly help to further raise the profile of this fast-growing sector. Beyond events, cruise lines are increasingly working to improve the resources and educational tools they make available to agents. For example, at Avalon, we’ve recently revamped our travel agent portal, which now not only allows the trade to make bookings, but also gives them access to a range of marketing and sales materials, too.
Plain green sailing
Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise operator, has announced the construction of its third hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship. The ship is due to be delivered in the second quarter of 2021. Among numerous innovative green features to be included on the new ship are substantially larger battery packs, which will make expedition voyages even more sustainable. The design, construction, engineering and advanced technology will be based on Hurtigruten's two next-generation ships, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, which are currently under construction at Norway's Kleven Verft AS shipyard. CEO Daniel Skjeldam said: “This groundbreaking vessel will take our guests to some of the most spectacular areas of our planet, in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way than ever seen before … These are greener, more advanced cruise ships than the world has ever seen – and ships that will raise standards for the whole industry to follow, as we enter a new era of expedition cruising driven by sustainability.” The ship will accommodate 530 guests and will be custom-built to cope with some of the most extreme conditions on the planet. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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November 2018 | Forward
REPORT
The semantics of luxury travel Agents must go beyond the marketing hype to deliver on what travellers in the luxury segment really want, finds Sara Macefield at the Clia Luxury Showcase Luxury cruising has never been so popular, but it is vital that agents don’t fall into the trap of making assumptions about typical upscale customers. This was the overriding message from October’s Clia Luxury Showcase held in Malaga, when speakers stressed the importance of understanding what makes this lucrative market sector tick. Dnata Travel B2B Europe managing director Lisa McAuley pointed out that travellers’ perceptions of luxury often evolved in line with their holiday experiences. “The challenge for us in the luxury space is how you get across what luxury stands for,” she added. “Ultra-luxury can be difficult to define and premium-plus is constantly chipping away at the luxury market.” While luxury can increasingly be seen as experiential and immersive, McAuley warned that such terms
could become overused and, regardless, it isn’t necessarily what luxury customers are looking for. “These travellers can generally see through marketing hype,” she warned. In an age of austerity and world poverty, McAuley also cautioned against being ostentatious, as top-flight service and understated elegance was more appropriate. But, most importantly, she advised: “Don’t make assumptions about what people want or what they can afford. Communication is key and can make or break a relationship. “Your ideal customers are cash-rich and time-rich. Listen to them; make recommendations, but don’t do the hard sell, extol the virtues. “Don’t over-elaborate or feel you have to justify the price point with too much information, as this can lead to confusion.”
Agents attended the Clia Luxury Showcase in Malaga to learn what makes this lucrative market sector tick
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Debbie Marshall, managing director of travel review and advice site Silver Travel Advisor, targeted at the 50-plus market, pointed out that this is the era of “platinum pensioners” who are relishing the golden times of final salary pensions. “There are 100,000 of them spending money on cruises, but there are lots of other choices,” she revealed. “Retirement could mean a cruise or a facelift … funding children or grandchildren’s school fees and childcare.” Marshall stressed the key was understanding the differences between luxury customers. Those in their 50s relish space, peace and relaxation, while 60-somethings, the “young-old”, tend to be empty-nesters ticking off destinations. Those in their 70s are actively cruising, but may not like the
November 2018 | Forward challenge of negotiating airports and like aspects such as gratuities included in the price. They also dislike being patronised. Travellers of 80-plus who have known post-war austerity dislike great displays of luxury and opulence and, with potentially failing health and frailty, also look for thoughtful service and familiarity, and want to feel valued. Expedition cruising is now a growing part of the luxury cruise scene, thanks to a raft of new launches, which Aurora Expeditions managing director Robert Halfpenny put at 28 between now and 2022. “This is going to revolutionise the expedition industry,” he said. “Luxury is changing this market and it’s becoming more comfortable.” As a result, Clia has already announced this sector will be one of its key focus areas in 2019, with its first expedition cruise event on March 28, organised with its new expedition working group chaired by Silversea UK managing director Peter Shanks. Speaking at the Showcase, the Silversea boss pointed out that consumers were moving from buying material items to buying experiences. “Please don’t underestimate the power of an Antarctic voyage,” he stressed. “We are all watching David Attenborough, but when you cruise with Silversea you can be like Attenborough.” With the main Six Star lines providing approximately 13,000 berths, he pointed out that Silversea accounts for 22 per cent of this and has the fastest-growing fleet of ultra-luxury ships thanks to its recent acquisition by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, which has bolstered future ship orders to five. Aurora Expeditions’ Halfpenny also extolled the virtues of the Australian company’s new vessel, Greg Mortimer, which arrives in November next year with a radical new X-Bow design that promises to enable higher speeds and cut seasickness. “We see the UK and North America as a big opportunity,” Halfpenny added. “We have been around for 25 years, but I think we will see great growth.”
Top: Managing director Robert Halfpenny speaks with Clia’s Andy Harmer; Above: Seabourn’s Lynn Narraway
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Why Seabourn’s Alaska
1. Unique itineraries highlighting the hidden gems of Alaska 2. Optional Ventures by SeabournTM double sea kayak, catamaran or Zodiac tours+ for exploring up-close at sea-level, with guidance & insights from a skilled Expedition Team 3. “Caviar on the Ice” party and other special deck events 4. Complimentary Klemtu Cultural Experience – hosted by the local First Nations community*
Plus, as always, your clients will enjoy the Seabourn Difference ●
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5. Unhurried 11-14-day itineraries allowing for a more indepth & immersive experience to places larger ships cannot visit
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6. Regionally inspired cuisine using local seasonal produce and seafood
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7. Seabourn Conversations with special guest speakers, including our knowledgeable Expedition Team of naturalists, Marine Mammal Experts, Bear Expert, Ornithologist and more 8. Frequent opportunities for wildlife sightings from the ship and shore 9. The Denali Experience, optional escorted 5-day Seabourn Journey 10. Expedition team outfitted with high precision, long-range Swarovski Optik binoculars for complimentary use 11. Complimentary Seabourn All-Weather Jacket * In select destinations
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Intimate ships with a private club atmosphere Intuitive, personalised service provided by staff passionate about exceeding guests’ expectations All ocean-front suites, luxuriously appointed Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available onboard at all times Tipping is neither required, nor expected All dining venues complimentary, your clients may dine where, and with whom they wish
SALES SUPPORT Seabourn’s Business Development Team is available to support you: Call: 0344 338 8614 | e-mail Salessupport@seabourn.co.uk www.seabournacademy.co.uk offers invaluable tips on selling ultra-luxury Reservations: 0344 338 8610 | www.seabourn.com
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November 2018 | Forward
NEW HIRES
Adventure brand Hurtigruten undergoes strategic restructure
Fred Olsen appoints new account manager Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced Kirsty Reid as its new account manager in the field sales team, boosting its total number of account managers to four. Reid will assume the role from mid November, having been promoted from her previous role as trade support executive within the sales team. She will be responsible for managing key accounts including in retail, online and call centre agencies.
Sales team expansion for Cosmos and Avalon
Hurtigruten's UK and EMEA senior teams have undergone a restructuring following the departure of managing director Magnus Zetterberg. Under the shake-up, two new roles have been created: UK general manager and a position leading the updated sales area of Europe. Current head of sales UK and Ireland Anthony Daniels has been promoted to incorporate the UK
general manager position into his existing role. Applying his 25 years’ experience in the cruise and luxury market segment, Daniels will lead the London office and UK operations, continuing to promote wider recognition of Hurtigruten in the UK and Ireland. Daniels will report into the new sales area, led by vice president of sales Europe Heiko Jensen.
Sister brands Cosmos – a leading UK escorted tour operator – and luxury river cruise operator Avalon Waterways have signalled a growing commitment to the trade with the significant expansion of their sales teams. Sales director Janet Parton is recruiting an additional five team members to her existing staff of three. Parton said: “By expanding our scale, we will be able to increase our support of the trade and dedicate even more time to meeting with a wider range of travel agents around the UK.”
Royal Caribbean boosts communications strategy with new head of PR and social for UK and Ireland and reshuffles sales team amid promotions Shilpa Saul has been named the brand's new head of PR and social. Saul joins from London-based PR agency Talk.Global, where she is currently a board director working with some of the world’s most renowned lifestyle brands. In her new role, Saul will direct an in-house team plus external agencies in the UK and Ireland. She will report to Royal Caribbean’s associate vice president and managing director for the UK and Ireland, Ben Bouldin.
Saul said: “I cannot wait to get stuck into my new role – I absolutely love the culture and ethos of Royal Caribbean, and in particular the ‘why not?’ attitude that shapes its game-changing approach to the cruise category. It’s an incredibly exciting company to be part of and I’m looking forward to working closely with the rest of the senior leadership team to deliver even more impressive results for the business.” Royal Caribbean’s sales team is also undergoing changes amid
several promotions. Among them is Stuart Byron’s appointment as interim sales director, supporting the senior sales leadership team until a permanent sales director is in place early next year. Elsewhere, Jemma Beach joins as head of retail south; Sophie Wilson has been promoted to key account manager North East & Scotland; Adam Morris joins the UK sales team as regional sales manager North East; and Emma Sweeny and Michelle Ryan join the business. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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November 2018 | Forward
FAM TRIPS / INCENTIVES
Crystal launches competition to win a fam trip or ship visit
Earn £50 on Paul Gauguin Cruises bookings Agents booking any 2019 departure cruise with Paul Gauguin Cruises throughout November will earn a £50 lifestyle voucher. The offer applies to all cruise bookings made between November 1 and 30, 2018. There is no limit to the number of bookings agents can make, so the more cruises agents book, the more they will earn.
Win a luxury advent calendar from CMV
Crystal is giving away a fam trip or ship visit to eligible agents. Agents making any Crystal Ocean or Yacht booking between November 1 and 30 will be entered into a prize draw to win one fam trip place. The prize includes flights from London, the cruise and taxes. Agents who make a Crystal River booking between November 1 and 30
will be entered into a prize draw to win a place on a ship visit in Amsterdam to see a Crystal River Yacht. The prize is for one agent and includes flights from London to Amsterdam, plus overseas transfers. There’s no limit to the number of entries an agent can make. Dates of the trip and ship visit will be announced at a later date.
Agents have the opportunity to win one of four luxury advent calendars from Molton Brown, Virgin Wines, Edinburgh Gin and Hotel Chocolat. To enter, agents should send details of bookings with CMW made from November 2 to competitions@crusieandmaritime. com with their name, ABTA number and booking reference. The CMV bookings can be of any nature. The draws will be made each Friday during November, beginning on November 9.
Oceania Cruises celebrates new OceaniaNEXT initiatives with a triple-points incentive throughout November for agent members of OLife Choice Rewards To mark the launch of its new enhancement project, OceaniaNEXT, Oceania Cruises is offering triple rewards points for travel agent members of OLife Choice Rewards. The incentive is available on all new bookings made between November 1 and 30 that depart in 2019. Plus, the cruise line has added 11 new sailings to its OLife Ultimate promotion, making it easier for travel agents to earn the additional points. The promotion offers guests unlimited internet, up to eight free
shore excursions, a free alcoholic house-beverage package, up to $800 shipboard credit and free gratuities per stateroom. OLife Choice Rewards is an incentive scheme available to travel partners on confirmed bookings with Oceania Cruises. It forms part of Oceania Cruises’ Travel Partnership Hub, which includes the line’s first UK online training programme and marketing portal, where agents can access relevant tools to sell Oceania Cruises.
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The number of points earned depends on the grade of stateroom or suite booked. Points can be converted into vouchers that agents can spend online with Amazon, John Lewis and Yumbles, an online food marketplace. Travel professionals can register for the scheme at oceaniarewards.com and can claim triple points on 2019 cruise bookings made in November quoting the code OC2019. Once registered, agents can use their account to log confirmed bookings and exchange points for vouchers.
CRUISE THE WORLD WITH RIVIER A TR AVEL WORLDWIDE CRUISES FROM
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SO MUCH IS INCLUDED • • • • •
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WONDERS OF THE NILE – THE LONG CRUISE FROM CAIRO 11 days from £2,340PP
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Departs from May to October 2019
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Departing April to August 2019
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YOUR FRIENDLY AGENCY SALES TEAM Prices are based on two people sharing and are correct at time of print. Single supplements may apply. Holidays are operated by and subject to booking conditions of Riviera Travel, ABTA V4744 ATOL 3430 protected. Subject to availability. Additional entrance costs may apply. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel.
ABTA No. V4744
Darren
Tamzin
Mia
Paul
Emma
November 2018 | Forward
ROUNDTABLE
Uncharted waters Sam Ballard sits down with those in the know to discover what’s driving growth in expedition cruises and how lines are hooking a new generation of cruisers Last month, Clia announced that it would be holding its first-ever Expedition Cruise event, on March 28 in London, to better educate agents about the fast-growing sector. As part of the push, Clia has formed its first expedition cruise working group to help steer the ship. We sat down with them for a roundtable to discuss the industry. How quickly is the expedition cruise sector growing? Peter Shanks [Silversea]: There are currently 29 ships on order across the expedition industry. Of that, about 11 are arriving in 2019. However, if you add up all of those beds, it’s still fewer than P&O’s Iona. So, while the growth is huge, it’s very achievable. Andy Harmer: There is a demand for destinations that people didn’t possibly think they could travel to in the past. We’ve also seen a shift in the types of holidays that customers want. They don’t necessarily just want to fly and flop anymore – they want to have experiences they wouldn’t previously have been able to have.
Ruth Gardiner [Celebrity Cruises]: And cruising makes that easy for our customers. That’s the great thing for our part of the sector. Places they didn’t think they could get to – whether through age or that were unaffordable – cruising is making them very accessible. The luxury part of the market is one that seems to be developing especially quickly… Nabil Maillard [Ponant]: For us, expedition means that we are reaching new markets. We are going from five to 12 ships in three years. Peter Shanks: That is the big opportunity for the travel agent community. With all of this growth, we are having to find first-time cruisers. We are seeing a lot of people who don’t necessarily see themselves as taking a cruise. They are baby boomers, 55-75 years old; they’re adventurous and want to explore the world. Are you finding that most of your passengers are first-timers? Ruth Gardiner: We’re seeing people who are former backpackers, world
travellers, people who took student gap years in their youth and have had families, those children have grown up and left home, and they want to go back to their bucket list. Just in much more comfort. Emily Shand [Aurora]: It’s the same for us. However, with our new ship, the Greg Mortimer, and all of the activities you can do, such as polar skiing and diving – we are hopefully reaching out to a younger demographic. What tips do you have for travel agents to sell expedition cruises? Peter Shanks: If you have cruise customers then it is a relatively straight switch. River cruise passengers also travel for destination, so are a good bet. If you have customers who take suites and are willing to spend a lot of money then that’s another opportunity. However, the biggest opportunity is for customers who are going with upmarket long-haul tour operators, such as Cox & Kings, Abercrombie & Kent or Kuoni. Andy Harmer: From an education point of view, there are a few things that agents would want to know. One is that these are very different destinations that offer very different experiences for customers. The other is that they need to understand what a day in the life of an expedition cruise is: shore excursions are generally included and guest lectures are a big part of the cruise. When agents get that knowledge, then they can understand who out of their existing customers would suit an expedition cruise. Read the full discussion online at cruise-adviser.com
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CRYSTAL CRUISES – VOTED WORLD’S BEST MORE THAN ANY OTHER CRUISE LINE, HOTEL OR RESORT IN HISTORY.
CAPTIVATING COTE D'AZUR ROME TO BARCELONA | VOYAGE OCY190517-06 ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY | 17 MAY 2019 | 6 NIGHTS
Michael Dupont Head of Sales Tel: 07921 949469 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk
Cruise Only Fares From
Deluxe Stateroom (C3 Grade)
from £1,385 per person
Deluxe Stateroom with Verandah (B3 Grade)
from £1,912 per person
Itinerary Highlights: Rome/Civitavecchia, Sorrento, Propriano, Cannes, Marseille, Barcelona (overnight).
Natalie Read Regional Sales Manager South Tel: 07896 971316 natalieread@cruiseportfolio.co.uk
Jon Schofield Regional Sales Manager North & Scotland Tel: 07841 921533 jon@cruiseportfolio.co.uk
Nan Short Representative Northern Ireland & Eire Tel: 02890 642252 nanshort@btopenworld.com
Megan Saunders Trade Sales Support Executive Tel: 020 7399 7602 megan@cruiseportfolio.co.uk
2018
23 years
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A BOOKING, PLEASE CALL:
020 7399 7601
www.crystalcruises.co.uk
ABTA No.V8548
Fares are per person, cruise only in UK sterling based on double occupancy in an outside stateroom and include port, security and handling charges, which vary by departure. All fares, offers and itineraries are subject to change and availability and can be withdrawn at any time. Fares may fluctuate and should be used as a guide only. Prices may go up or down. You should contact us on 0207 399 7601 before booking, or visit our website www.crystalcruises.co.uk. The fares are available to new bookings only and are only available to UK & Eire residents. Restrictions apply. See crystalcruises.co.uk for complete terms and conditions of all offers. ©2018 Crystal Cruises, LLC. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas.
November 2018 | Midship
INTERVIEW
Great expectations on Europe’s waterways Sam Ballard hears from Walter Littlejohn, VP at Crystal River Cruises, about how the line has elevated European river cruising to meet the global standard of luxury When Crystal Cruises said that it was going to enter the river cruise market in 2015, it raised more than a few industry eyebrows. The announcement, which formed part of a mega expansion that included yachts, airplanes and expedition ships, was made that July. By November, the original two river ships had been expanded to five – with the first launching in the summer of 2016. Within this hectic environment, Crystal appointed Walter Littlejohn as its vice president and managing director of Crystal River Cruises. That was in June 2016 – one month before Crystal Mozart’s maiden voyage.
“The global standard of luxury did not exist on Europe’s rivers before Crystal River Cruises,” says Littlejohn, who joined the company from AmaWaterways, when asked about why the role with Crystal appealed. “I’m talking about the standard of luxury on a Seabourn, Silversea or Crystal ocean cruise, a Singita Safari or that of The Brando in the South Pacific. There is a standard that I as a consumer expect and that standard was not met on Europe’s rivers. At all. “It is with Crystal River Cruises and that’s why I took this job, I knew it. The company was not going to deliver less than it does on its ocean liners.”
The numbers back up much of what Littlejohn says. The double-width Crystal Mozart – which can handle 154 passengers, has an astonishing 92 crew members. For comparison, a similar-sized Uniworld vessel has 46 crew. Tauck’s 130-passenger vessels are staffed with 43 crew. The AmaMagna, AmaWaterway’s doublewidth 196-passenger ship, has 70 crew members on-board. “I’m not just hiring people for the sake of it, though,” Littlejohn adds. “All of those people have got a job. What we do is very special. I’m madly in love with our crew and the passion they have for what they do.
Crystal Cruises’ river vessels and voyages are built around its philosophy of ultimate service and style
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Food is front and centre on-board, and guests enjoy open-seating dining at whatever time suits them
“Our closest competitors wish they could offer service like ours. Take our food as another example. We have Michelin-inspired cuisine, like all Crystal ships. But, because we’re sailing in some of the richest farming regions in the world, we can operate farm-to-table. “Every ingredient that is brought on to the ship is fresh – nothing is frozen. That’s not the standard in our industry. Our galleys are three to four times the size of typical galleys – that gives us the space to do it.” When asked what his favourite feature is on-board Crystal River, Littlejohn immediately cites food – “exhibited by the fact that I put on a pound a day when on-board” – as well as the ship’s highly skilled crew. “Everything we do is a la minute – it’s prepared to order. We do not do banquet-style cooking where salads are prepared five hours before being served. That allows us to have true open-seating dining. Our guests can sit with whoever they want, whenever
they want – it could be 7.30pm today and 8.30pm tomorrow. “Whenever you see set dining times that is because a cruise line is doing banquet-style cooking. They need you to be seated by this time because they need to get their salads out of the way before they can do the appetizers. “If everyone came to our restaurant at the same time, our whole system would come crashing down. It’s like coming to a Michelinstar restaurant and trying to book a table for 20 people – they couldn’t do it. The level of detail and effort that goes into each meal means it simply is not possible.” However, with all five Crystal River ships operating on either the Rhine, Danube or one of its tributaries, the pressure from expectant guests for expansion cannot be far away. It’s a subject that Littlejohn won’t be drawn on. “We’ll expand to wherever our guests want to go in the future,” he answers.
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Perhaps the most interesting fact about Littlejohn is that he used to own his own travel agency in the United States, Chartwell Vacations, giving him experience as both a seller and operator – crucial given that Crystal’s trade sales make up about 95 per cent of global business and 98 per cent in the UK. “Travel agents are extremely important to our business,” he says. “My background has helped me have a clear understanding about the types of conversations clients have with agents during the buying process. “The most oft asked question I was asked as an agent was, ‘why this one over that one?’ “Because of that we spent a lot of time clearly defining how we’re different and doing it in a language that is understandable to the consumer and of benefit to agents. “I believe that everyone operating on Europe’s rivers is good, I really mean that. It’s just that Crystal is on a different level.”
Booking Cunard has never been so rewarding.
Cunard is joining Shine Rewards Club, giving you great opportunities to enjoy exclusive treats, experiences and Cunard cruises. You can earn Shine points for every Cunard Fare booking you make and every Academy Online module you complete. Combine your points from both Cunard and P&O Cruises and exchange them for a host of fabulous rewards – including exciting new choices from Cunard.
So, sign up today at shinerewardsclub.com and register to start earning points*. *Bookings available to add from 3 December 2018.
November 2018 | Midship
INFOCUS
Aurora Expeditions Sara Macefield meets Robert Halfpenny and Craig Upshall, managing director and UK & Europe sales director, respectively, for Australian adventure company Aurora As adventure companies go, Aurora Expeditions has been something of a sleeping giant in the UK. Last year, this Aussie-owned specialist celebrated its 25th anniversary since being founded by passionate travellers Greg and Margaret Mortimer, but many British agents (or consumers for that matter) will have never heard of it. Yet, over recent decades, the company’s growing range of intrepid itineraries and innovative Polar activities that now include skiing, snorkelling and even camping have built a loyal fanbase on its home turf. This, in turn, spread out internationally and started to make an impression among UK expeditionary
specialists, which began to sell the Sydney-based company’s products. It’s a testament to Aurora’s strengthening profile and the explosive growth of the expeditionary sector that the company is now pumping more resources into the UK market: it has appointed its first UK & Europe sales director, Craig Upshall, who joined from Rocky Mountaineer in May. He was brought on board by managing director Robert Halfpenny, who also worked for the Canadian railtour operator before joining Aurora last year. It’s an exciting time in the company’s growth as it prepares for the launch of new expeditionary ship, Greg Mortimer, which joins its three
chartered ships, Polar Pioneer, Coral Expeditions I and Isabela II. The new vessel, carrying 160 passengers – despite being designed to carry 180 – is due to launch in November 2019, and is set to be followed by a second ship. However, the arrival of Greg Mortimer promises to be a game changer not just for Aurora, but expeditionary cruising at large thanks to its revolutionary X-Bow design. “The way it pierces the waves reduces the movement of the ship, cutting seasickness by 60 per cent and maintaining faster speeds, reducing the time it takes to cross Drake Passage from two to one-and-a-half days,” explained Halfpenny.
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November 2018 | Midship With the Drake’s formidable reputation known to deter some would-be Antarctic cruisers, rival lines are sure to be watching this new innovation with interest. With this, and passenger numbers restricted to 120 on Polar voyages, Halfpenny is confident Aurora’s new ship will fill the mid-market gap between ultra-luxury and more basic alternatives. “It’s something different. It is not luxury, although 65 of the 80 cabins have balconies,” he added. “This ship has been built for global exploration.” Despite initial strong sales, which have seen Greg Mortimer’s inaugural Antarctic season 85 per cent sold, Halfpenny accepts that one of the biggest tasks is getting the message out, although international bookings are steadily rising. “Around 90 per cent of our business used to be Australian, but that’s now dropped to 70 per cent with North America and Europe making up the remainder,” he said. “Of that, around seven per cent is from the UK and we expect to double it for 2020/21 and then double it again.” His confidence is well founded, following a marked increase in UK business after Upshall’s arrival and his focus on specialist operators including Explore, Audley Travel and Trailfinders who already sell Aurora. Upshall was also instrumental in the company’s move to join Clia. “If we want to get brand awareness and move expeditionary cruising into the wider market, this is what we need to do,” he said. Now, Upshall is pushing a twopronged approach to target tour operators and step up retail training via Clia, through trade roadshows and working with travel agents. Aurora has sealed deals with Iglu and is in talks with ROL Cruise. A new sales executive is being recruited and there are plans for a bookable website. “This year was very much laying the foundation of partnerships,” Upshall added. “Many agents haven’t heard of us, but we are planting the seed and we are very trade focused. We intend to build our brand presence and help them build an expedition presence in their portfolio.” CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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November 2018 | Midship
LUXURY
Ultra-luxury mega-yachting venture carves out new industry niche Opulent hotel giant Ritz-Carlton has glided into the water, making waves with clean, innovative design and nice-to-have features, writes Sara Macefield Luxury hotel company Ritz-Carlton has been making waves in more ways than one with the unveiling of its first 298-guest mega-yacht under the new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection brand. The 26,000-tonne vessel was launched in traditional style in October, when it rolled down the slipway of the Barreras Shipyard in Vigo, northern Spain, where it is being built, and splashed into the Atlantic ocean. Between now and its debut in February 2020, the 149-suite superyacht is being fitted out under the direction of Swedish ship architect
and interiors specialist Tillberg Design to reflect the opulence and style of the upscale chain’s properties, but with a nautical twist to resemble an exclusive club. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection chief executive Doug Prothero described the new venture as a yachting lifestyle product, adding: “We wanted to build something true to the Ritz-Carlton brand and we have a game-changing design.The quality of what we have put in the water is as good as you can get anywhere.” The launch of the ship also coincided with the unveiling of
mock-ups of the Grand Suite and entry-level Terrace Suite, which can be combined to form expansive accommodation containing two bedrooms or one bedroom and a large living area. Clean lines and contemporary furnishings in a palate of neutral shades of taupe, chocolate and fawn, interspersed with splashes of colour, give a definite Scandi no-frills feel to the decor, although there’s no doubting the quality finish. A more innovative feature of the interconnecting suites is a moveable wall panel separating them, instead
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November 2018 | Midship of a door, which Prothero claimed to be a more substantial sound and privacy barrier when each suite was sold separately. In the suites, there’s an emphasis on avoiding clutter and keeping controls simple, so light switches are contained on an intuitive panel; espresso machines are hidden on a sliding shelf within a cupboard; and additional furniture is stored in a hidden space in the wardrobe. In keeping with the no-clutter theme, coffee tables are small and compact, although tabletops can be slotted on top for guests wishing to dine in their suite. En suite facilities are suitably opulent in ivory with wood effect and double vanity units. There are six suite categories, which all come with private terraces and benefit from 24-hour in-suite dining. However, the super-yacht lays claim to the highest percentage of larger suites in luxury cruise – 106 in total when interconnecting suites are joined together – and more space per passenger than other ships, plus a crew-to-guest ratio of one to 1.21. Public areas come with flowing spaces and neutral colours. There is no grand atrium – befitting its style as a private yacht – but it does come with a water-sports marina equipped with water toys and classic teak decks with spacious lounging areas, hot tubs and an aft deck infinity pool. Prothero added: “There will be five dining venues, a spa and a fitness centre, but there is no show lounge and no casino, because we did not want them. “Our guests are not interested in big shows; they want local, customised service. We will have performances and small groups, perhaps bring local culinary celebrities or authors on board.” Excursions are similarly styled, described as “curated immersive destination experiences”, and tapping into the expertise of concierge teams at Marriott hotels in ports to offer more personalised and unusual options for passengers. The ship’s first season will start in the Caribbean. It moves to the Mediterranean in April 2020 and Northern Europe from July that CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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November 2018 | Midship year, when it will call at Greenwich and Edinburgh. Sailings generally range from seven to 10 nights, with Mediterranean prices starting at around £4,500pp. This super-yacht is the first of up to eight for the new brand, with the second and third vessels due to debut in 2021. Its name is due to be revealed at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes in December. “We think the limit is not how many we can sell, but how long this market is still a niche,” said Prothero. “The luxury space is now building ships in the range of 800 to 1,000 berths. Ours is under 300, so barely touching it.” Company bosses say they have been blown away by the public response since bookings opened in May, with demand claimed to be triple what was expected. Cruise newcomers have accounted for at least half the total, with more than 30 per cent of bookings from existing Ritz-Carlton customers. “We know there are more than 400,000 cruisers on the Ritz-Carlton database,” said Prothero. “However, the response from new cruisers is bigger than we thought. Between the brand and the design, it is bringing people into cruise, which is great for the business, great for the industry and great for us.”
THREE MEGA-YACHT CRUISES Seven nights in the Med
Eight nights in South America
Eight nights in the Caribbean
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Monte Carlo–Barcelona June 7, 2020 From £5,439pp
Scenic Eclipse Buenos Aires-Rio de Janeiro March 20, 2019 From £3,475pp
Wind Surf St Maarten (round-trip) November 30, 2019 From $1,899pp
What better way than to enjoy Monaco, than by mega-yacht? This cruise takes in Antibes, St Tropez and Sète (France) and Roses (Spain). Charming Sète is a port that larger ships simply can’t visit.
This coastal cruise from Buenos Aires spends an overnight in the Argentinian capital before sailing towards Rio de Janeiro. With plenty of sea days, guests can enjoy the splendour of Eclipse.
Seadream’s Wind Surf is the world’s largest sailing yacht, carrying 310 guests in 154 staterooms. This trip to and from St Marteen takes in Barbuda, Roseau Pigeon Island and Les Saintes. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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November 2018 | Midship
RIVER
Cleverly fusing substance, space and style to exquisite effect Jane Archer was the first UK journalist on board American Queen Steamboat Company’s majestic but minimalist new paddleboat, American Duchess Anyone familiar with the vibrant Victoriana decor on AQSC’s Mississippi paddleboat American Queen will be surprised by the latest addition to the fleet. American Duchess, launched last year, is modern and majestic but so minimalist in the colour department that even the designer felt it needed a touch of blush here and there, so he hung lots of Murano glass around the public areas. On my cruise, some loved the contemporary style; a few longed for American Queen’s whimsy – but everyone agreed Duchess was striking. Inside there are capacious rooms and high ceilings; in ports her
traditional paddleboat wedding-cake looks always attracted an audience. American Duchess started life in 1995 as a Mississippi casino boat, was acquired by AQSC a couple of years ago, gutted and rebuilt as a luxury paddlewheel hotel boat with room for just 166 passengers. “We added an extra deck so there is a crazy amount of space,” said president and chief operating officer Ted Sykes. He said their next vessel, another gaming boat that will be gutted and rebuilt for a 2020 launch as American Countess, will have capacity for 245 passengers. All river-facing cabins on American Duchess – that’s most
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accommodation – are designated suites on account of their size, and all have balconies. Four striking twostorey Loft Suites have a living room downstairs and bedroom above, while three Owners’ Suites have separate living and sleeping quarters and huge balconies with sofas. Both Loft and Owners’ Suites come with butler service and perks including welcome wine and fruit, and reserved seating in the show lounge. The boat is certainly roomy, with plenty of seating inside and out. The downside is that people are so scattered that the only rooms with a real buzz were the restaurant at dinner time and show lounge, where
November 2018 | Midship each evening an enthusiastic trio performed songs from musicals and the ’50s and ’60s. The restaurant is elegant and big enough to seat everyone at once – it is open seating, so you just turn up when you want to eat. Some waiters were great, a few needed more training, but the maître d’ was excellent and always had a table for me, a solo traveller, to join so I didn’t dine alone. Alternative dining is available in the River Club and Terrace, which serves a buffet breakfast and lunch, and transforms into a reservationonly restaurant in the evening. It was popular by day and the evening menu looked great, but I peeked in a couple of evenings and each time there were just a handful of diners, which didn’t appeal. The dinner set-up there, and a vast sun deck with nothing but four umbrellas to sit under, felt like works in progress. There were also issues with the air-conditioning, which was set to freezing for the first few days. I initially thought that explained why the bar was always empty (it was just too cold to sit there), but even after the air-conditioning improved it remained deserted. One barmen said it was unusual and surmised it was due to the older age of passengers on my cruise. All were American, bar me and a couple of past AQSC passengers from Israel, and most were in their 70s and 80s and had notched up numerous cruises on AQSC’s other two vessels. When American Duchess went on sale, they rushed to be on the first cruise, but there were teething problems so AQSC gave them a great deal on a future voyage as recompense. It’s a testament to how well the company handled the situation that so many rebooked, many of them choosing my cruise because it was a new itinerary combining the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. My package, sold in the UK by ASQC general sales agent Light Blue Travel, included a night in the Drake Hotel in Chicago and transfers to the boat in Ottawa, a small town on the Illinois River. Instead of the direct transfer, I joined an optional CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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‘premium’ tour of the Windy City for all passengers that ended in Ottawa. All AQSC itineraries have premium excursions alongside a free hop-on, hop-off bus that circles the towns and cities the boats call at, stopping at museums, churches and other places of interest (with free entrance to most attractions) so passengers can explore as they wish. It’s a big selling point, and a brilliant way to see places at your own pace without worrying about the budget. * A seven-night Mark Twain’s Mississippi cruise from St Louis to St Paul on American Duchess costs from £3,275 per person departing August 4, 2019, including flights, transfers, two pre-cruise nights with breakfast in St Louis, and wine or beer with lunch and dinner (01223 568904; lightbluetravel.co.uk)
THREE PADDLEWHEEL CRUISES 23 nights on the Mississippi
Eight days from New Orleans
Seven days in France
American Queen Steamboat Company – American Duchess St Paul-New Orleans August 18, 2019 From $6,999pp
American Cruise Lines – Queen of the Mississippi New Orleans-New Orleans March 19, 2019 From $2,170pp
CroisiEurope – MS Loire Princesse Paris-Loire Valley April 24, 2019 From £1,685pp
The epic cruise allows guests to experience the majesty of the mighty Mississippi with the likes of Memphis and Baton Rogue along the way.
Guests can immerse themselves in the rich culture of New Orleans, before setting off at a leisurely pace along one of the world's major river systems.
Departing from the City of Lights on a scenic voyage, this cruise takes in French history and the country's untouched landscapes as it traverses the picturesque Loire River. CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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CORAL EXPEDITIONS
Dive in Down Under James Litston ticks the Great Barrier Reef off his bucket list on a small-ship Coral Expeditions cruise
November 2018 | Midship Whether it’s Captain’s cocktails, a formal night or simply just because, there’s an expectation of dressing up when it comes to cruising – but not like this. As I zip up my nylon body stocking and pull mittens, socks and balaclava into place, I’m conscious that perhaps I’m not looking my best. With its baggy, unflattering fit, my top-to-toe costume makes me look part ninja, part Nora Batty. It’s ridiculous, but it’s essential equipment for exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. In addition to 600 types of coral, six kinds of sea turtle and more than 1,500 fish species, the Great Barrier Reef teems with jellyfish, some of which can inflict painful stings. My nylon ‘stinger suit’ may look absurd but it provides protection from even the deadliest jellies. Fortunately my fellow passengers and I all seem to have packed our senses of humour, so once we’ve stopped laughing at our stinger-suited selves we can dive in and see what’s about. We’re at Lizard Island, way up in the northern reaches of the reef, and the sea life here is said to be incredible. That’s because we’re way beyond the reaches of the average day trip, so Lizard’s coral is pristine and undamaged by boatloads of tourists. Indeed, there’s absolutely nobody here for miles around except for guests at the island’s exclusive, and pricey, 40-suite resort. We, however, are anchored offshore on Coral Expeditions II, and this is our first time underwater on this four-night Northern Great Barrier Reef cruise. Diving in, I’m immediately struck by the sheer profusion of life, in particular the clouds of colourful fish. I watch tiny, neon damselfish darting among the coral while schools of rainbowbright parrotfish browse the reef. They defecate clouds of sand as they pass; ill-mannered, perhaps, but this chewedup coral is the raw material of Lizard’s white, powdery beaches. We finish with sunset cocktails on one such gorgeous, empty strand before returning for a seafood supper. We quickly demolish the buffet of Queensland prawns and Moreton Bay bugs (a kind of lobster) before heading back outside to throw the scraps overboard. Drawn by bright lights, a number of predatory fish have gathered for the feast: some giant trevally,
a leopard shark and a Queensland grouper as big as a dustbin. I’m glad I didn’t meet them during our swim. The fleet Coral Expeditions, the Australian company we’re sailing with, essentially
pioneered overnight cruises to the reef’s outer stretches more than 30 years ago. Since then, it’s grown to a three-strong fleet serving some of the most undiscovered parts of Australasia: Papua New Guinea, the islands of Indonesia, Cape York, Arnhem Land, CRUISE-ADVISER.COM
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November 2018 | Midship that combine into a flexible, weeklong sailing. I’ve chosen the four-day Northern portion as it involves more time in the water, but for clients interested in back-to-back sailings, it pairs nicely with the three-night Southern Reef itinerary’s rainforest, mangroves and sea turtles for a thoroughly immersive experience offering maximum variety and insight. The ship itself is a catamaran that’s designed specifically for the Barrier Reef. Its small size means it can access interesting ports beyond the reach of larger ships, and being double-hulled provides additional deck space and a smoother ride through the waves. A good-sized lounge and sun deck present opportunities to mix with other passengers, while my simple but comfortable stateroom is a peaceful bolthole in which to relax. The overall ambiance is much more intimate than an ordinary cruise, yet creature comforts such as quality dining and a turndown service keep things classy, and the evening entertainment of lectures and quizzes is most informative.
Tasmania and the Kimberley Coast. The small-ship, expedition-cruise ethos translates into an intimate and friendly experience that stays true to Coral’s pioneering spirit. Even the largest ship, Coral Discoverer, has just 36 spacious staterooms, though this will be eclipsed
next year when a fourth ship, 60-room Coral Adventurer, joins the fleet. Coral Expeditions II – the smallest ship, with 22 cabins – remains loyal to the company’s roots by plying the Barrier Reef year-round, alternating between three and four-day itineraries
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Selling tips With their short durations, the Barrier Reef cruises are particularly popular with British clients who don’t necessarily want to commit a full week to a cruise. Sales through the trade are strong, with flexibility being key to the Barrier Reef sailings’ success, according to Kevin Preston, If Only’s Australasia product manager. “The Barrier Reef itineraries attract a broad cross section of interest,” he says, “although we also do well with the Kimberley and Tasmania sailings. The discerning, 40-plus market is core for these cruises, especially early retirees enjoying longer trips to Australia. Barrier Reef cruises also sell well to honeymooners and families as they’re so easily combinable with a range of Australasian itineraries, including a typical Sydney, Reef and Rock. Weekly, year-round departures and easy access to Cairns, Coral’s home port, also make these cruises easier to package – plus there’s no single supplement.” It’s also worth noting that the onboard environment is extremely relaxed, so clients don’t need to pack smarter clothes as might be expected
November 2018 | Midship on a more mainstream cruise. This works well for me, as I’m in Australia for a month and don’t want to be hauling excess luggage all over the country. Masks and snorkels are available, free of charge, on the ship, so there’s no need to bring my own, and I purchased my stinger suit onboard, which simplified pre-trip planning. Ribbon Reefs Moving on from Lizard Island, we head south to the Ribbon Reefs, a remote and little-visited stretch of coral for more diving and snorkelling. There’s no sign of land in any direction, just a dazzling patchwork of colours where the reef shimmers under the surface. While some passengers board the glass-bottomed boat and others take a diving excursion, I grab my snorkel and submerge to discover corals of all shapes and forms. I see finger, mushroom, boulder, plate and staghorn corals in mint condition, plus big schools of pouty-lipped butterfly fish and yellow-and-blue fusiliers. Back on board, I’m able to appreciate that everyone – from experienced divers to novice snorkellers and those who don’t get in the water at all – has been able to observe and interact with the reef without leaving their comfort zone. This means that even clients who might not feel so confident in the water can fully enjoy the reef in safety and even improve their snorkel or diving skills thanks to expert tuition. Coral Expeditions are not inexpensive, but the value these cruises offer is nevertheless excellent. After all, the Great Barrier Reef is true bucket-list stuff, and clients would struggle to find a more immersive, adventurous or fun way to experience this natural wonder. Just remind them maybe to leave their dignity in port before embarking, because absolutely nobody looks good in a stinger suit. If Only (0141 955 4000, ifonly.net) offers Coral Expeditions’ four-night Great Barrier Reef cruise from £1,299pp (two sharing). A package combining the cruise with five nights at Thala Beach Nature Reserve (Port Douglas) and four nights at PARKROYAL Darling Harbour (Sydney) costs from £2,499pp (two sharing), including domestic flights. www.coralexpeditions.com
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PRE & POST Seeing multiple destinations in one trip is one of the great things about a cruise: even on a short trip you are able to take in distinct cultures, languages and cuisines of whichever region you’re sailing in, making for an incredible holiday. But one of the chief objections we hear about cruise is that you don’t spend long enough in each port, preventing you from truly experiencing a destination. But by offering guests a pre- or post-cruise stay, they can experience the best of a land-based holiday as well as a cruise holiday. With many cruises starting or ending in blockbuster ports, such as Barcelona or Amsterdam, it makes perfect sense to bolt a few nights in a hotel onto the cruise, or look at something more adventurous. The best bit? It’s a fantastic way of making extra commission. Here, we highlight nine cruises – with nine great pre or post options.
Where do you want to go?
Short-haul p46
Long-haul p47
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Something different p48
Short-haul Cruise offers so much in Europe, with itineraries in the eastern and western Mediterranean, Baltics and fjords, as well as river cruises on the Rhine, Rhone and Danube. It’s always worth adding few days in Lisbon or Porto ahead of a Douro river cruise, or a stay in Paris before sailing the Seine, and what a waste it would be to miss Rome entirely when sailing out of Civitavecchia. Here are few options – a city break, a sunny getaway and something a bit more adventurous.
What kind of holiday do you want? City break
Sunny getaway
Adventure
Who? Emerald Waterways Where? Portugal When? May 2019 How long? 11 days How much? From £3,770pp
Who? Marella Cruises Where? Croatia When? May 2019 How long? 11 days How much? From £1,038 (including hotel stay)
Who? Hurtigruten Where? Norway When? Winter How long? Nine days How much? From £578pp, plus Kirkenes stay
This sun-kissed eastern Mediterranean cruise with Marella takes in Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Split and Hvar (Croatia), Ancona and Venice (Italy) and Koper (Slovenia). The company, formerly called Thomson Cruises, also offers guests the chance to spend three nights in one of seven hotels in beautiful Dubrovnik (included in the above price), where they can spend time exploring the limestone streets and strolling along the ancient city walls.
Guests sailing with adventure specialists Hurtigruten can choose from various pre or post stays on Arctic voyages. One popular option is a three-day adventure in and around Kirkenes – joining a snowmobile safari and sleeping in a hotel made entirely of snow and ice. Kirkenes, located in the northeastern part of Norway on the Bøkfjord, is where the line’s classic fjord cruises begin or end on the way to or from Bergen (the line also offers a chance to spend two nights in the city, known as the Gateway to the Fjords).
The sparsely populated Douro Valley is an increasingly popular river cruise destination. From Porto, guests take in the baroque village of Lamego, hike through vineyards, and sample local port on the way to Pinhão. Emerald Waterways also offers guests a chance to experience the country’s fascinating capital, Lisbon, before heading back down to Porto. This city, once overlooked by tourists, is now one of Europe’s hottest destinations. It’s beautiful, the food is great, there are dozens of nearby beaches, and – best of all – it’s cheap.
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Long-haul If customers regret only having a few hours to spend in, say, Vienna on a cruise, they can always hop on a plane and visit for a short city break. With longer-haul trips, it’s not that easy – which is why pre- or post-cruise stays on land can make perfect sense. They are also great for first-time cruisers who don’t want to spent their whole holiday at sea. We’ve picked three options – based on active, cultural and luxurious holidays – for those looking to delve a little deeper.
What kind of holiday do you want? City break
Sunny getaway
Adventure
Who? Cunard Where? New York When? October 2019 How long? Seven nights, plus hotel stay How much? From £1,379pp (including flights), plus hotel stay
Who? P&O Cruises Where? Barbados When? December 28, 2018 How long? 14 nights How much? From £1,649 (including flights), plus hotel stay
Who? Avalon Waterways Where? India When? February 26, 2019 How long? 15 days How much? From £5,770pp (including flights)
Guests can get their New Year off to a tropical start with this Caribbean voyage around the region’s eastern islands. Starting and ending in Barbados, cruisegoers can extend their stay, taking time to explore all it has to offer. Bridgetown, home to Barbados’s cruise port, has a number of high-end lodgings, or get back to nature by venturing to the more isolated reaches of its extensive coastline.
Avalon Waterways combines cruises on the Ganges in India with a Golden Triangle tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Guests join a sunrise excursion to the Taj Mahal, visit the city of Jaipur, with its Palace of Winds and spectacular Amer Fort, before flying to Kolkata to board a Ganges river cruise.
Cunard’s transatlantic voyage is one of the most iconic itineraries in the world of cruise. The company boasts a selection of hand-picked hotels, so guests on its crossings can spend a few extra nights in the city. As this is Cunard, expect absolute luxury: a great option is the Crowne Plaza Times Square, located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan just steps away from the Theatre District..
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Something different As well as short-haul and long-haul options, we’ve provided some more off-the-beaten-track ideas. Cruise holidays, which are often lumped together as if all the same, offer incredible diversity with itineraries to far-flung, otherwise inaccessible destinations. Want to experience the biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands, the pristine wilderness of Antarctica, or the ancient history of the Nile? For travellers – both young and old – the answer is a cruise.
What kind of holiday do you want? City break
Sunny getaway
Adventure
Who? Viking Cruises Where? China When? March 2019 How long? 14 nights How much? From £3,495pp
Who? Star Clippers Where? Bali When? June 2019 How long? Seven days How much? From £1,395pp
Who? Abercrombie & Kent Where? Northwest Passage When? August-September 2019 How long? 23 nights How much? From $29,995pp
This incredible land-and-cruise trip begins in Beijing and ends in Shanghai, two of China’s most mesmerising cities. Guests take in the Great Wall of China, the ancient Terracotta Warriors and embark on a Yangtze river cruise on the Viking Emerald, where they will see the huge Three Gorges Dam. In the capital, guests will see the 1,000 buildings of the Forbidden City, a Unesco World Heritage Site and the huge Tiananmen Square, home to the mausoleum of Mao Zedong.
This incredible cruise to Indonesia aboard Star Clipper – a 2,298-ton, 360-foot vessel – allows guests to go in search of the fascinating (and carnivorous) Komodo dragon while taking in the beautiful islands of the region. Spread across 17,000 different islands, Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago nation, made up of waterfalls, volcanoes and peaceful beaches. As the trip begins and ends in Bali, many will extend their stay. Stonehouse in Ubud is particularly spectacular.
Follow in the footsteps of great explorers, with this incredible trip through the Northwest Passage with ultra-luxury operator Abercrombie & Kent. Guests spend a few days in beautiful Montreal, before being flown to Kangerlussuaq in Western Greenland where they join luxury yacht Le Boreal (owned by French luxury line PONANT but chartered here by A&K). The ship then traverses the passage on the way to Alaska.
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November 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 – meaning trade sales support is never more than a phone call away
CRUISE LINES!
Information missing or out of date? Email info@cruise-adviser.com
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November 2018 | Aft
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A-Rosa Lucia Rowe, head of sales UK and Ireland 078 4202 6013 l.rowe@a-rosa.de
Carnival Cruise Line Luke Smith, head of UK & international sales 020 7378 4660 carnivalsalesuk@carnival.com
Amadeus River Cruises Natalie O’Mahoney, head of sales 0800 035 6411 natalie@fredrivercruises.co.uk
Celebrity Cruises Katherine Hulatt, trade support 01932 834 379 (option 2) salessupport.uk@rccl.com
AmaWaterways Jamie Loizou, sales, marketing and digital director 033 3305 3902 jamieloizou@amawaterways.com
Celestyal Cruises Marios Polydorou, senior manager sales +30 216 400 9631 m.polydorou@celestyalcruises.gr
American Cruise Lines Hannah Logan, product manager 0800 035 0237 sales@americancruiselines.co.uk American Queen Steamboat Company Rupert Thompson, managing director 01223 568 904 r.thompson@aqgsa.com APT Touring Jessica Shelton-Agar, national sales manager 01494 736 147/07584 057 341 jessica.shelton-agar@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
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
Azamara Club Cruises Lori Scanella, business support executive 01932 834 379 salessupport.uk@rccl.com
Cunard Line Victoria Snelgar, business manager – sales operations 07773 253 279 victoria.snelgar@cunard.co.uk
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Belmond Yann Guezennec, worldwide director of sales & marketing, trains & cruises 020 3117 1395 yann.guezennec@belmond.com
Disney Cruise Line Juliet Holden, account executive 080 0171 2317 juliet.holden@disney.com
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Heritage Line Amy Sharpe, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com
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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
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
E-Waterways Amy Sharpe, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com
Hurtigruten Anthony Daniels, head of sales 020 8846 2666 anthony.daniels@hurtigruten.com
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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
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Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Mike Evans, head of sales 01473 746164 cruise.sales@fredolsen.co.uk
JTA Travel Dave Green, managing director 0121 508 5567 dave.green@jtatravel.co.uk
Fred Olsen River Cruises Hannah Logan, UK Sales Manager 0800 035 3189 hannah@fredrivercruises.co.uk
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Katerina Line Dea Baretincic, sales manager +385 51 603 409 dea@katarina-line.hr
French America Line Kevin Griffin, director 020 7723 2450 kcgriffin@frenchamericaline.com
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Latin Routes Jessica Dennison, director 020 8546 6222 info@latinroutes.co.uk
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G Adventures Stuart Darnley, national sales manager 07964 983 842 sdarnley@gadventures.com
Leger Holidays Ashley Dellow, head of retail sales 01709 385 811 retail.sales@leger.co.uk
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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
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Hebridean Island Cruises Lisa White, reservations manager 01756 704 704 lisa.white@hebridean.co.uk
The Majestic Line Marie McGhee, sales manager 01369 707951 info@themajesticline.co.uk
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Manatee Amazon Explorer Amy Sharpe, sales and marketing 0808 168 1458 salesuk@ewaterways.com
Pearl Seas Cruises Susan Shultz, director of sales +1 203 458 5280 susan.shultz@pearlseascruises.com
Marella Cruises Andrew Isherwood, commercial support team 020 3451 2762 commercial.support@tui.co.uk
Ponant Stephen Winter, international sales director 0800 980 4027 swinter@ponant.com
MSC Cruises Victoria Taylor, sales operations manager 020 7092 8182 ukinsidesales@msccruises.co.uk
Poseidon Expeditions Alexandra Prokopyeva, sales and marketing 020 3808 7787 sales@poseidonexpeditions.com
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National Geographic Expeditions Hannah Logan, UK sales manager 0800 440 2552 sales@fredholidays.co.uk Noble Caledonia Agency sales 020 7752 0000 agencysales@noble-caledonia.co.uk Norwegian Cruise Line Nicky Foot, director of business development UK & Ireland 07408 855 679 nfoot@ncl.com
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Oceania Cruises Lisa Clarkson, national accounts manager 07809 351 545 LClarkson@OceaniaCruises.Com Agency Sales 0345 505 1920 AgencySales@OceaniaCruises.Com One Ocean Expeditions Debra Taylor, new business development 07956 852 197 debra@toucanmoon.com
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P&O Cruises Brodie McIntosh, trade engagement manager 023 8065 5780 brodie.mcintosh@cunardpocruises.com Pandaw Andre Dreyer, sales & marketing manager +841 1 664 836 482 andre@pandaw.com Paul Gaugin Mick Dupont, head of UK sales 020 7399 7602 mick@cruiseportfolio.co.uk
Ports Direct Karl Lapage, managing director 0843 0843 003 karl@portsdirect.co.uk Princess Cruises Mark Lowman, manager – sales operations 023 8065 6531 mark.lowman@princesscruises.co.uk Pullmantur Simon Chambers, operations manager 0800 021 3180 simon.chambers@fredholidays.co.uk
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Quark Expeditions Pushparaj Shetty, senior distribution manager +1 416 645 8248 push.shetty@quarkexpeditions.com
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises Caroline Moody, business development executive 023 8068 2283 agencysales@rssc.com Anna Salter, business development executive 023 8068 2283 agencysales@rssc.com Rocky Mountaineer Steven Harris, regional sales director 07970 519 164 sharris@rockymountaineer.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
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Travel2 Colin Currie, head of sales 07891 257 160 colin.currie@travel2.com
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Saga Travel Sukina Fagg, national account manager 080 0074 8021 sukina.fagg@saga.co.uk
Travelsphere & Just You Sarah Weetman, head of trade sales 07748 843 244 sarah.weetman@travelsphere.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
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SeaCloud Anja Ringel, vice-president, international marketing and sales +49 40 3095 9217 aringel@seacloud.com
Variety Cruises Chris Lorenzo, managing director, Seafarer Cruises 020 8324 3114 info@seafarerholidays.co.uk
Uniworld Rachel Healey, national sales manager 07408 855 544 rachel.healey@uniworld.com
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Victoria Cruises Tom Antonucci, sales manager +1 212 818 1680 tom@victoriacruises.co.uk
SeaDream Yacht Club Mark Schmitt, sales director 07904 068 407 mschmitt@seadream.com
Viking Cruises Andrew Schweitzer, key account manager (south) 07825 986 996 andrew.schweitzer@vikingcruises.com Jenny Wade, regional sales manager (north) 07966 995 012 jenny.wade@vikingcruises.com
Shearings Michael Bowers, national sales manager 01942 823 449 sales.support@shearings.com Silversea Sales support 020 7340 0700 salesuk@silversea.com
Volga Dream Hannah Logan, UK sales manager 0800 035 3189 hannah@fredrivercruises.co.uk
Star Clippers Danielle Dudley, UK sales manager 077 6585 2116 danielle@starclippers.co.uk
Voyages to Antiquity Amy Sykes, partnerships manager 01865 302 2565 a.sykes@voyagestoantiquity.com
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Tauck Kathryn Coles, UK country manager 080 0810 8020 tauckreservations@tauck.co.uk
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Windstar Cruises Sales team (The Cruise Line) 0800 852 7248 windstarUK@cruiseline.co.uk
Titan Travel Edwina Coppock, agency sales manager 012 9345 0726; 078 3465 2135 edwina.coppock@titantravel.co.uk Touchdown | Travel Industry Services Robbie White, head of cruise product 020 8607 3805 rwhite@touchdown.co.uk
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November 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 December for the answers
OCTOBER SOLUTION
ACROSS
DOWN
7. School test (4)
1. Commotion (2-2)
8. In a daze (5)
2. World's fifth largest country (6)
9. Many northern Iraqis (5) 11. Malaysian capital (5,6) 14. Toward the stern (5)
SUDOKU
See the next cruise adviser in December for the answers
3. Triumphant in Paris, perhaps (3)
16. Point in question (5)
4. Paddington's first home (4)
19. River predator in Africa or Northern Australia, for example (4)
5. Horse-drawn fourwheeler (6)
20. Cruisers pass many of these (6)
10. Mischievous person (3)
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12. Yet to be delivered (6)
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13. Gulf of Oman port (6)
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QUIZ
WIN!
2 return tickets to South America!
See bottom of page for answers
1. What is the name of Virgin Voyages' first ship? 2. Which Halloween star is known as the original 'scream queen'? 3. David Bowie grew up in which area of London? 4. Premium All Inclusive is a brand of which cruise line?
To celebrate the addition of Air Europa’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliners to its fleet, the airline is giving away two return economy tickets to any of its Dreamliner destinations. These include Miami, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Santo Domingo, Lima, Buenos Aires and Panama, Air Europa’s latest route, launching on February 25, 2019.
5. Guadeloupe is an overseas region of which country? 6. Where is the QE2 now based as a floating hotel?
To enter, answer the following question and send your answer to info@cruise-adviser.com with the subject line as ‘November competition’ by 19 December.
7. What is the third most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
How many destinations in Latin America does Air Europa fly to?
8. Mezzanine is a 1998 album by which Bristol band? 9. In which European city would you find the Spanish Riding School?
WIN!
10. What is the capital of Kazakhstan?
Bonus Shine Rewards Club points throughout November
11. Tavistock Square in London has a statue dedicated to which famous pacifist? 12. What, according to the Guinness World Records, is the heaviest building in the world? 13. Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X are films by which director? 14. Wayne Rooney now plays for which MLS team?
Cunard is offering all travel agents up to 50 bonus points simply for registering for Shine Rewards Club in November. Points earned are dependant on your Academy Online ranking, but even those who aren't yet registered for the Academy are guaranteed to earn Shine points.
15. What is the name of the new iPhone? QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Scarlet Lady; 2. Jamie Lee Curtis; 3. Brixton; 4. Norwegian Cruise Line; 5. France; 6. Dubai; 7. Sharjah; 8. Massive Attack; 9. Vienna; 10. Astana; 11. Mahatma Ghandi; 12. Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest; 13. Spike Lee; 14. DC United; 15. XR
Visit shinerewardsclub.com to register
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November 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: MSC Cruises’ glazed pluma of Iberian pork with sautéed vegetables
Ingredients (serves four) Pluma of Iberian pork
Salt Ground black pepper
For the feather glaze 100g hoisin sauce 20g kimchee base 10g honey 20g chicken stock
Method First create the feather glaze by mixing the hoisin sauce, kimchee base, honey and chicken stock. Put the mix into the freezer to chill.
For the sautéed vegetables 60g carrot 60g leek 60g cabbage
To make the sauteéd vegatables cut the vegetables into julienne. Sauté them with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper.
For the beef mayonnaise 160g mayonnaise 16g reduced beef stock (beef flank with bone, pig’s trotters, onion, carrot, leek, garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, red wine, sugar, bay leaf, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, water)
To make the reduced beef stock, cut the vegetables in brunoise, except the tomato, and sauté in a saucepan. Add the bay leaf, black pepper, thyme and rosemary. Add the tomato and keep cooking until soft. Add the tomato sauce and continue sautéing. Add the wine with the sugar and continue cooking until it reduces by half.
Cornstarch
Meanwhile, roast the beef flank in the oven at 240ºC for about 25 minutes. Add to the pan the roasted beef flank and the pig’s trotters cut in half. Add the water and turn the heat to low. Reduce. Remove the pan from the heat and strain. Cool in the fridge. Reduce the resulting stock once again. Texture with the necessary amount of cornstarch to obtain a very thick texture. Mix mayonnaise and reduced beef stock and reserve in the fridge. Finishing and presentation Put some of the meat mayonnaise on two sides on the plate. Place the sautéed vegetables in the middle and place the iberian pork feather on top.
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November 2018 | Aft
LOOKOUT
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Images from the latest industry events 1. Princess Cruises’ Rachel Poultney (second from right) celebrates with industry colleagues at the Princess Cruises 2020 event. 2. Holland America Line hosts travel partners aboard Koningsdam. From left to right, Planet Cruise’s Sophie Muirhead and Catherine Hussey; Lucy Harris, HAL; and Seren Moore and Danielle Milburn, Planet Cruise. 3. Becky Sutton takes part in the Club Royal SnowGlobe competition, winning a place on an all-expensespaid Royal Caribbean holiday to New York this December. She joins 14 lucky jet-setters on the three-night trip, where they will stay at a luxury Manhatten hotel, dine at New York’s finest eateries and experience the best entertainment the city has to offer.
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4. Travel agents at the Clia Luxury Showcase in Malaga in October.
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November 2018 | Aft
FINAL WORD
All eyes on clever cruise innovations Virgin Voyages’ new adults-only cruises place emphasis on health, wellness and green travel – a model being watched with interest industry-wide, says Sam Ballard The recent news that Virgin Voyages is to build a fourth new ship is a further sign – as if one was needed – of the company’s intention to shake-up the cruise industry. The new deal, which is valued at about €700 million, will mean that Virgin will have ships delivered in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. But how is Sir Richard Branson going to make Virgin Voyages stand out from the competition? For one, we know that they’re going to be “adult by design” and made for passengers (or sailors) who are “18 years of age and older”. They will also have capacity for about 2,700 passengers and 1,150 crew. That puts them roughly in the same area as upcoming ships such as Celebrity Edge, Sky Princess and Nieuw Statendam – albeit without children onboard. A crucial difference. The ships will also feature a massive gym – called The Athletic
Club – which will include a training camp room and an area for boxing classes. Tantalisingly, a running track, The Runway, “exists in an elevated world of its own. That means sailors can feel free to run in a personal zen state, without the worry of interruption from other ship activities.” Yoga and meditation will be available in a special, private venue, called The Crow’s Nest. Other facilities include a tattoo parlour, barbershop and a Mexican restaurant, all of which will no doubt feature heavily on Instagram when Scarlet Lady, the first ship, launches. Whatever, you think of these plans, they call to mind a change in the holiday attitudes of young people. According to ABTA’s Holiday Habits report, 53 per cent of 18-24 year olds who have not been on a cruise before would like to go on one. That’s extremely positive. However, the cruise offering for this age group
has to be different to what else there is on the market. Almost 30 per cent of young people in the UK do not drink, while in the US, the number of people regularly practising yoga or pilates doubled between 2002 and 2015 to about 21 million people. Health and wellness are key trends that we are only going to hear more about going forward. The environmental impact is another hot topic that is likely here to stay. The ship will be free of single-use plastics, plus Virgin is partnering with a Swedish company called Climeon to help power the ship by converting heat from the engines into electricity. The Swedish Energy Agency said the technology was the biggest energy innovation in the past 100 years. These are all very clever innovations that are seemingly rooted in sound observations. However, only time will tell whether they work or not.
COMING NEXT TIME Celebrity Edge
Preview 2019
Ports of call: Tokyo
Sue Bryant gets a first a look at the ship everyone is talking about from the launch ceremony in Miami.
We talk to leading figures across the cruise industry to find out what’s in store for next year.
Discover what the Japanese capital has to offer as it prepares for the Rugby World Cup and Olympics.
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agencysales@emeraldwaterways.com | 0161 233 1988 Terms and conditions: All of our holidays are subject to availability. *The prices shown are correct at the time of going to print (31st October 2018) and are per person, based on two people sharing our lead-in, lowest priced cabins in low season. Supplements apply for single travellers, upgraded cabins and other departure dates. ^Savings of up to 30% off are only valid on new 2019 European river cruise bookings made between 1st and 30th November 2018. Discounts and offers are not available on our Special Guest River Cruises. Our offers are not combinable and we reserve the right to withdraw our offers at any time. Our itineraries, hotels, dates and inclusions are subject to change. †Emerald Radiance on the Douro River does not have bicycles or an indoor pool/cinema, instead there is a spa-style Serenity Pool on the Sun Deck. For full terms and conditions visit emeraldwaterways.co.uk. E&OE.