SEABOURN IS ENTERING THIS NEW MARKET WITH TWO COMPELLING ULTRA-LUXURY EXPEDITION SHIPS

cruise experience Seabourn offers rather than a separate product. So much activity is packed into each voyage, making it easier for the travel advisor to ensure their clients will be well cared for with many life-expanding moments. The ships and our world class expedition team will deliver amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to any guest who chooses to sail with us.”

Travelweek: What else is new that travel agents should know about?

Smotrys: “Seabourn has just released extraordinary worldwide itineraries to explore the Caribbean, Asia and Arabia between fall 2024 and winter/spring 2025. Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation will take guests on more than 40 unique sailings to hidden harbors, marquee ports, and must-experience destinations, including new stops and ports Seabourn has not visited in five years, such as Isabel Segunda, Puerto Rico; Santa Marta, Colombia; Port Antonio, Jamaica; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Kaohsiung and Magong (Makung), Penghu Islands, Taiwan.

“Seabourn just opened booking for its first-ever ‘Grand Africa Voyage.’ Departing Nov. 30, 2024, Seabourn Sojourn will circumnavigate the continent and sail more than 17,000 miles during a 90-day, roundtrip adventure departing Barcelona, Spain. The journey will offer a world of experiences for guests, visiting 44 marquee and off-the-beaten path ports and cities throughout 26 countries, with six overnight stays on the itinerary.

“The 2024 Grand Africa Voyage will feature a blend of historically profound destinations such as Alexandria, Cairo, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem; luscious, tropical paradises such as the Seychelles and Bom Bom Island; lands with breathtaking, diverse landscapes and wildlife such as Kenya, Madagascar and Zanzibar; and culturally rich destinations such as Cape Town, Morocco and Mozambique. In addition to renowned destinations, guests can discover Africa’s lesser-known gems such as Luanda, the ‘Paris of Africa,’ and Cape Verde, the ‘Gateway to the West’.”

Travelweek: What’s selling the most for summer 2023?

Smotrys: “ Antarctica is on the must-visit list for many travellers, and therefore, it is one of our most popular destinations. It truly feels out of this world, and you must visit Antarctica to fully understand the awe and majesty of the destination. For many, there is no greater place on Earth.

“Another destination proving to be very successful is Scoresby Sound, located on the east coast of Greenland. Scoresby Sound is the world’s largest fjord system, couples with the Greenland icecap pouring into the fjords through endless glaciers, making this truly one of the most spectacular scenes in the world.”

Travelweek: Seabourn has a new President at the helm – Natalya Leahy. How will her leadership style impact the direction Seabourn will take this year and beyond?

Smotrys: “Natalya is an accomplished leader who brings a wide variety of diversity of leadership experiences working in large global organizations and iconic consumer-centric brands in companies and organizations, such as Procter and Gamble, Coca-Cola, and United Nations. She spent the past seven years supporting Seabourn in various capacities, including her roles as Chief Financial Officer for Holland America Group and Chief Operating Officer for Holland America Group. She was a part of building the success of Seabourn and supporting the brand, as well as leading the restart of cruise operations, and she values the importance of listening to our trade partners, guests and team members to develop strategies supporting their needs.”

Travelweek: How is Seabourn working with Canadian travel agents this year?

Smotrys: “Recently, Seabourn has doubled down on its support for the market. We now have a dedicated National Account Manager based in Toronto, helping support the dual branded business development managers with their Seabourn accounts. Travel advisors have access to Seabourn travel advisor rates to experience Seabourn firsthand including 50% off select voyages, and even more reduced rates once they complete our Seabourn Academy Graduate training course. We also provide limited time offers of bonus commissions as extra incentives, and we offer limited ship tours in Vancouver and in the Maritimes.”

Destinations

WestJet has officially launched its brand new service to Asia. Flight WS80 from Calgary arrived at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport earlier this week. The nonstop service will operate on a 787 Dreamliner three times per week through Oct. 28, and will return in spring 2024. “We are thrilled to see our new service to Tokyo, Japan take flight as we welcome our newest destination to our 787 intercontinental hub at YYC,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Executive VP and Chief Commercial Officer. WestJet’s flight to Tokyo is just one of many new direct services launching this spring.

It was 40 years ago this week that Cathay Pacific flight CX800 departed Hong Kong for Vancouver, marking the airline’s first entry into North America. With the milestone flight, Cathay Pacific also became the first airline in the world to connect the two cities with nonstop service, which began with two flights per week in each direction. Considered ground-breaking at the time, the Boeing 747-200 flight provided travellers with a nonstop option for the first time, reducing the total journey by more than two hours versus the previously established route via Japan. Vancouver would eventually become one of Cathay Pacific’s biggest markets outside of Hong Kong. The airline opened its first ticket office in 1983 at 1018 West Georgia Street, in the heart of Vancouver’s ‘airline row,’ employing 26 in sales, marketing and reservations.

Labour

It looks as though a WestJet pilot strike has been averted, with the airline reaching a tentative agreement with Unifor. Both sides agreed on the first collective bargaining between the organizations and now await the ratification vote to be put forward to membership.

“WestJet is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes the important contributions of our valued airport employees at YYZ,” said Diederik Pen, WestJet EVP and COO. “Our airport employees play an integral role in supporting our operations and this settlement reflects WestJet’s commitment to supporting them as they continue to provide the friendly, reliable service our guests know and expect of the WestJet Group.” The ALPA, represented by Unifor, voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate in mid-April, which would have allowed 1,600 WestJet pilots to launch a strike as early as May 16, just ahead of the May long weekend.

Airlines

Condor Airlines is increasing its presence across North America with more nonstop flights to Frankfurt - including a number of routes from Canadian gateways. From its Frankfurt hub, Condor offers connecting service to 100+ destinations throughout Europe via a network of airline and rail partners including Lufthansa, SAS, Aegean Airlines and more. Plus, North American passengers can take advantage of Condor’s interline partner WestJet, as well as Alaska Airlines and JetBlue. This summer out of Canada, Condor will fly from Toronto (5x/week service started May 1); Vancouver (5x/week service starts May 3); Halifax (3x/week service starts May 20); Edmonton (2x/week service starts May 26) and Whitehorse (1x/week service starts May 28).

Cruising

Seabourn’s first-ever ‘Grand Africa Voyage’ will circumnavigate the continent and sail more than 17,000 miles over 90 days. Sailing roundtrip from Barcelona onboard the Seabourn Sojourn, the voyage will depart on Nov. 30, 2024 and visit 44 ports and cities throughout 26 countries, with six overnight stays included in the itinerary. Bookings are now open.