CLIA UK & Ireland Monthly Newsletter Edition 29

Edition 29 - September 2015

Watermark Watermark This month is sponsored by The Scottish Port of Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

A warm welcome to our September issue of Watermark – bringing you the latest news, events and trends in cruising.

There is one big event this month for the whole industry – and that is Cruise Week.

First created in 2008, this is an annual marketing and promotional campaign that seeks to raise the profile of cruising to households across the UK & Ireland, and particularly those who have yet to take their very first cruise holiday.

Whilst we have seen huge amounts of growth in the number of people taking a cruise from across the world, there are still plenty of people in the UK and Ireland who are ‘yet to cruise’ – and that is our big focus for campaigns such as Cruise Week.

This year we are celebrating a ‘Festival of Cruise’ – showcasing a range of different experiences that a cruise offers and sharing them on our dedicated page at cruiseexperts.org and via our social media platforms to reach as many people as possible. And social media is key. It means that we can maximise our reach, and it means that we can all share in making this year’s Cruise Week a big success. So to all of you Facebookers and Tweeters we would appreciate your assistance in spreading the cruise word using #CLIACruiseFest Thank you for helping to spread the word – and have a great month!

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Andy

We are very happy to formally invite you to our Cruise Partnership Day on the 10th December 2015. This event will be onboard Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Magellan as part of the run up to our Annual Dinner and provides a chance for our Executive Partners to meet with relevant members of Cruise Line staff. The event is primarily focussed towards those involved with the Technical, Regulatory and Legal issues, or Port & itinerary planning, but of course all of those of our Executive Partners & Cruise Lines who would like to take this opportunity to converse are very welcome. There is no charge for attending this portion of the day, but we do ask that you book your places, so contact us for more details.

Immediately following Partnership Day, I would like to remind you that tickets remain on sale for the 2015 CLIA Annual Dinner onboard Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Magellan docked at London Tilbury, where you can enjoy the company of a wide range of agents, media, cruise lines, Executive Partners and friends of the industry. Tickets are priced at £199.00 + VAT and this includes the full evening, overnight accommodation & breakfast onboard Magellan. We have a number of table sizes in order to accommodate your team and anyone that you may wish to invite to join you, so do let us know what you are looking for and we will be happy to help.

GET READY FOR CRUISE WEEK 2015 Saturday 19 - Sunday 27 September

#CLIACruiseFes

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Each year CLIA, our travel agent members, executive partners and the finest cruise lines of the world work together for a whole week here in the UK and in Ireland to celebrate some of the great holiday experiences that cruising offers.

And this year is no different! For Cruise Week 2015 we are going to celebrate some of the great aspects of a cruise that makes it a truly memorable holiday as we celebrate all aspects of cruise in our Festival of Cruising!

How can you get involved?

• Follow CLIA on Facebook (facebook.com/CliaUKIreland) and Twitter (twitter.com/UKCruising) • Use the hashtag #CLIACruiseFest in your communications on Twitter and Facebook • Utilise the Cruise Week logo in your marketing - please email aholubowicz@cruising.org for the logos • Ensure the trade have access to any offers or promotions you would like to publicise during Cruise Week, by adding them to

our Promotions page. To add them, you simply need a login to widgety.co.uk and to tag the offers #cliapromotions

Contact alonsdale@cruising.org if you need assistance with this

Join us online over the week and check out www.cruiseexperts.org/new-to-cruise/cruise-week for more information

New CLIA Executive Partner Members...

CLIA are delighted to welcome the below four new members as Executive Partners of CLIA. Please find below short company profiles, and do not hesitate to contact Augustus (alonsdale@cruising.org) for any contact details.

For over 20 years, we’ve had our fingers firmly on the pulse of adventure travel, and have worked hard to make it beat faster by offering the widest selection of affordable small-group tours, safaris and expeditions across the world.

At Wendy Wu Tours we really know Asia; every vibrant, fascinating and incredibly rich corner of it. That’s why we are the UK’s leading specialist tour operator to China, Japan and Southeast Asia.

We thrive on bringing together curious travellers from all over the globe to experience, learn, share and explore this incredible planet of ours. We make travel meaningful by thinking small, thinking local, and thinking about what benefits the traveller, the trip, and the planet best.

Since Wendy’s first tour departed in 1994, we’ve been perfecting and diversifying our range of tours to capture the very essence of the destination, so you’re not just admiring the top sights but truly discovering them - our award-winning national escorts and their unparalleled knowledge are an integral part of this.

Whether it’s the Arctic or Antarctica, an eight-day dip or 21-day odyssey, a quest in search of penguins or polar bears, there’s a G Expedition cruise that’s right for everyone. Completely refurbished in 2009, the G Expedition boasts a spacious, comfortable and safe experience for all her guests. Big enough to hold 134 passengers comfortably and small enough to access spots beyond the reach of big liners, she’s a little ship that feels surprisingly big.

For us, your journey begins from that very first enquiry. You can trust that we are dedicated to expertly guiding you through your Asian adventure, wherever you choose to explore. We believe that when visiting a place, it is important to not only feel, see, learn and experience, but to also give something back. We do this partly by supporting charities in Asia; and also by supporting local enterprise.

www.gadventures.co.uk/travel-styles/cruising/expedition-cruises/

Set up in 1989, Red Letter Days pioneered the concept of giving unforgettable experiences as gifts. The idea really caught people’s imaginations and Red Letter Days has gone from strength to strength.

Today we offer hundreds of experiences in the UK; an unrivalled choice with something to suit every taste, occasion and budget.

But we don’t just do experiences. Boasting the most extensive range of Experiences in the market to Lifestyle our signature high street voucher, we also provide bespoke Corporate Hospitality, Team Building & Incentive Travel to Gifts and Hampers – we can help you create a flexible and results driven campaign which will engage employees and incentivise customers. www.redletterdays.co.uk

www.wendywutours.co.uk

Destinology have been providing luxury, tailor-made holidays to established and evolving destinations worldwide since being founded in 2004.

With an enthusiastic team of experienced Travel Consultants, the staff have first-hand knowledge of the holidays they sell having visited many of the destinations and their hotels. Passionate about all types of travel from family holidays to cultural tours, city breaks and exotic escapes - Destinology have also expanded their brand to include cruise. Winners of the British Travel Awards 3 years in a row and selected as one of Britain’s Cool Brands in 2014, Destinology has excelled in the luxury travel market with their expert knowledge, high levels of customer service and outstanding product range. Destinology not only has excellent relationships with the hotels they sell, but also with their customers, many of whom return year after year to book with them. Destinology is not your average tour operator: innovative, modern and extremely passionate about what they do – travel is their appetite www.destinology.co.uk

Brooker switches roles at MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has named Chiara Brooker as its new sales manager – national accounts and groups.

Brooker, who joined the cruise line in March this year, switches from her role as sales manager – trade operations. She will work alongside Steve Harris, who remains sales manager – digital and tour operator agents.

MSC Cruises head of sales UK and Ireland Janet Parton said: “Chiara has considerable experience of leading teams and working with travel agents. I am confident she will help us continue the great strides we have made over the last year in transforming our relationships with the trade.”

Cruise Baltic Launches Its First Theme Cruise Brochure

Produced specifically with the needs of cruise lines in mind, network Cruise Baltic has created a new and ‘first’ brochure entitled “Theme Cruises in the Baltic Sea”, available on line at: https://www.cruisebaltic.com/media/65636/Theme-Cruises.pdf

Brooker and Harris will oversee the cruise line’s sales team in the UK, which now consists of sales and account managers Alyshia Bartlett, Laura Montalban and Mark Swords – who all joined in May – and regional sales manager Karen Spencer. Rebecca Kelly remains sales manager in Ireland.

A newly created sales executive role within the sales team has been created, responsible for ship visits, event coordination and campaigns. Recruitment will begin soon.

Using the platform of Seatrade Europe this week, Cruise Baltic Director, Claus Bødker – on behalf of all the network’s 28 destinations – has taken the opportunity to launch this new marketing tool to the industry marketplace. Says Claus Bødker: “We believe by taking this initiative and producing this new ‘Theme Cruises’ brochure we aim to succeed in conveying to itinerary planners the richness and diversity of our Baltic Sea region, together with the many appealing attractions it has to offer.

We hope our recommendations featured will prove inspirational to our cruise line partners and that this tool will be a ‘first’ in a series of themed brochures.”

Content of the fully-illustrated, 8-page brochure includes: Six specific cruise themes; together with What the Baltic has to Offer (relevant to the theme); suggested target groups; local maps; illustrations; suggestions for activities on board ship; and a contact list of Cruise Baltic partners in the region.

These suggested themes, each with a 7-night cruise itinerary, with some destination examples featured for cruise passengers to visit, are: • Baltic Wellness Cruise: featuring Rønne (Denmark), with its Diamond Spa;

and Kotka, (Finland), where Yoga at Sea can be enjoyed.

• History Cruise – WWII: featuring Rostock (Germany) – Berlin highlights

and the Mother-Child bunker; and Kristiansand (Norway), Kanon,

the world’s second largest cannon.

• Baltic Lighthouses: featuring Turku (Finland), Bengtskär – Scandinavia’s

tallest lighthouse; and Saaremaa (Estonia), Sõrve Lighthouse the

tallest in the Baltic Sea. • Viking Cruises: featuring: Oslo (Norway), the Viking Museum; and Elsinore

(Denmark) Viking Village Frederikssund • Design Cruise: featuring Helsinki (Finland), The Design District; and

Gothenburg (Sweden), the Volvo Museum • UNESCO World Heritage Cruise: featuring Tallinn (Estonia) the Medieval

Old Town (13th-16th century); and Gdansk (Poland), Malbork Castle Copies of the printed “Theme Cruises in the Baltic Sea” brochure will also be available on the Cruise Baltic stand No 207 at Seatrade Hamburg.

Ian Hopley It is with deep sadness that CLIA learnt of the passing of Ian Hopley.

Ian was the founder of CLIA member Travelux of Tenterden, an independent agency specialising in cruising. He was a director from 1972 until he retired in 2013 and was highly respected throughout the travel industry. This quiet, dignified and unassuming ‘gentleman’ will be greatly missed by all those who knew him, and CLIA extend its sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Europe’s cruise industry still growing, but clouds gather over horizon Hamburg, 9 September 2015 – In 2014 Europe’s cruise industry delivered a record boost to Europe’s economic recovery with its total economic output reaching €40.2 billion, up 2% from the previous year. However, CLIA Europe has warned that a number of challenges that are looming over the horizon threaten to undermine future growth unless action is urgently taken.

Speaking in Hamburg at the opening session of Seatrade Europe – the major biannual cruise event focused on Europe’s cruising market, taking place this week – Pierfrancesco Vago, CLIA Europe’s Chairman, said: “Last year the cruise industry continued to grow and increase its relevance in Europe, generating 350,000 jobs – 10,000 more than in the previous year – and driving European industrial production – 29 out 31 oceangoing cruise ships scheduled to be delivered by 2018 are being built in European shipyards.

“However, the cruise industry’s growth in Europe has slowed down compared to previous years. While the long-term trend remains positive, the future could be much brighter. A number of critical constraints to the industry’s further growth need urgent addressing if we want to ensure that the cruise industry will continue to be a solid contributor to Europe’s economy.

During his keynote speech, Mr Vago highlighted some key areas that are acting as constraint to the cruise industry’s further growth, namely: insufficient development of port infrastructure; the uneven application of EU environmental legislation in Europe’s ports; and constraints impeding the arrival of more third-country tourists in Europe.

Speaking about the need to further expand port infrastructure, Mr Vago continued: “Many European ports are struggling to keep up with the cruise industry’s rapid growth. Upgrading port infrastructure throughout Europe is a necessary investment that would open new routes and destinations, and further boost the industry’s economic impact on land. We also need to make sure that more European ports have adequate facilities allowing cruise ships to discharge wastewater onshore.”

Talking about the inconsistent application of EU legislation in Europe’s ports, Raphael von Heereman, CLIA Europe’s Secretary General, said: “The way certain pieces of EU legislation are applied across Europe can be compared to a patchwork quilt, which is affecting our ability to optimise our ships’ operational efficiency. The EU Sulphur Directive is a prime example. While cruise lines invest in expensive, open-loop scrubber technology to comply with the Directive, in remains unclear in which ports they will be able to use it. EU Member States need to focus on aligning the application of European legislation all their ports to avoid this confusion.”

Speaking about the need to allow more third-country tourists to visit Europe, Mr von Heereman continued: “Europe is among the world’s most restrictive regions in terms of visa requirements for foreign nationals, and is subsequently losing six million potential tourists every year at a crucial time of economic recovery. The proposed EU Visa Code reform is a vital start to improving tourism flows in Europe. But the EU Institutions must swiftly adopt and implement the new legislation, or risk depriving the EU of even more precious tourism revenues when it needs them most.”

Mr Vago called on all the parties concerned, including cruise operators, ports, authorities and other tourism stakeholders to keep working together in order to find solutions to these and other challenges: “CLIA advocates a multi-stakeholder, consensus-driven approach that starts with dialogue among all the parties concerned. Although we face big challenges, CLIA and the cruise industry are committed to doing what’s necessary to ensure that the cruise industry continues to growth sustainably in Europe for years to come.”

Cruise Line and Port and Destination Community In Hamburg (Hamburg, September 9, 2015) – Cruise Lines International (CLIA) hosted its second annual Port & Destination Summit in Hamburg, Germany, at Hamburg Messe, one day before the city hosts the Seatrade Europe Cruise Convention.

The Port & Destination Summit brought together more than 200 delegates from 28 countries, representing port authorities, destinations, shore excursion operators and port agents, and included nearly 50 cruise line executives. Based on the success of last year’s Port and Destination Summit in Barcelona, Spain, the event was designed to create a meaningful dialogue on the port and destination community’s role to the growth of the global cruise industry, and included roundtable discussions, presentations and concurrent sessions. Participants also had multiple opportunities to network with industry leaders and influencers.

Keynote speakers included Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises and CLIA Europe Chairman, Adam Goldstein, President and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. and CLIA Global Chairman, and Cindy D’Aoust, CLIA Acting CEO. The key theme of the Summit was the importance for cruise lines, ports and destinations to continue working and growing together for both the sustainability and growth of the global cruise community.

Based on member feedback, the 2015 Summit was extended a second day and included a new social event – a Dinner River Cruise. Interactive Itinerary Planning Workshops were also added to the agenda to promote knowledge sharing, and a better understanding of the choices and complexities faced by cruise lines when considering their ports of call.

“With the global cruise industry achieving strong year-over-year growth, CLIA member cruise lines are continuously launching new and exciting itineraries around the world,” said D’Aoust. “Creating opportunities for dialogue between the cruise lines and port and destination community is critically important to the industry’s growth, as cruise itineraries play a key role in appealing to new and existing consumers.”

“After Barcelona’s success, we are delighted with this year’s Port & Destination Summit. This platform has given all stakeholders a unique opportunity to engage on key, relevant topics,” said Giora Israel, Senior Vice President for Global Port and Destination Development at Carnival Corporation and Chairman of CLIA’s Global Port & Destination Committee. “The Summit format created an engaging and open dialogue between cruise line executives and the port and destination community more than ever before, and has further strengthened these key business relationships.”

CLIA’s next flagship event is The CLIA Executive Partner Summit on 27-29 October in Miami, Florida. The event will include a Port & Destination Forum as well as a Technical & Regulatory Forum.

More information can be found at http://cruising.org/about-theindustry/events/2015-clia-executive-partner-summit.

CruiseBritain Launches Two New Themes For Cruise Exploration Of Britain Two new Themes for cruise passengers to experience are launched by CruiseBritain at this week’s Seatrade Europe.

‘Festivals’ looks at the wide variety of annual Festivals held across the UK whilst ‘Film & TV Locations’ points to the opportunities to discover screen favourites in real life.

These new Themes build upon the existing eight themes featured on CruiseBritain’s website: ‘British Heritage’, ‘Culture’, ‘Gardens’, ‘Golf’, ‘Heritage Coasts’, ‘Outdoor Activities’, ‘World Heritage Sites’ and a ‘Royal Trail’, all of which seek to highlight new experiences and the opportunities open to cruise passengers to really enhance their British experience.

All of the ‘Festivals’ featured take place annually with special notes of landmark events coming up from 2017 onwards. From traditional and classic to the downright quirky and off-beat, Britons can always find something to celebrate with a Festival; from Art to Music (sometimes together) to the best of Food & Drink, Fishing, Walking and Sailing to Kites and Hot Air balloons.

There are a wealth of film and TV locations across Britain, many of them open to visitors, from Harry Potter to Sherlock Holmes; Jane Austen to Rosamund Pilcher. A visit to a picture-perfect castle or stately home welcomes guests into the world of a film or TV series: sweeping landscapes, cityscapes and town streets, ancient dockyards, abbeys and churches, parklands and gardens can seem strangely familiar on a first time visit.

Angie Redhead, Chair of CruiseBritain commented, ‘We believe providing themed information is a really useful tool for cruise itinerary planners. We’ve taken a fresh look at the opportunities for cruise lines and are delighted to bring information on a selection of ‘Festivals’ taking place across the country as well as highlighting some of the world-famous ‘Film & TV Locations’ open to visitors.

Themes bring an added dimension to the cruise holiday and our aim is to provide information that will give an insight to the range of options available from British ports that will create memorable immersive experiences for our cruise visitors’.

CruiseBritain and member exhibitors are at Stand 408, Seatrade Europe, 9 - 11th September 2015.

All Wrapped Up... Silversea Expeditions Seals Partnership With HAGLÖFS Outdoor Clothing The ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises has partnered with the renowned outdoor clothing brand Haglöfs to create two new co-branded jackets that Silversea will present to its guests on expedition cruises to Antarctica, the Arctic, Chilean Fjords, Russian Far East, and Sub-Antarctic New Zealand from June 2016 onwards.

Over one hundred years of research and development have contributed to the success of Haglöfs and its positioning amongst the most respected and prestigious brands of top quality adventure gear.

A leading player in the field of technical outdoor clothing, Haglöfs employs a range of innovations stretching from back systems, to choices in materials and original constructions. Several of their successful product releases have resulted in international awards and distinctions.

“Like a step in freshly fallen snow, everything we do leaves a mark on the world.

Our choice, and our responsibility, is to step lightly. On our journey into the future, we wish to leave behind nothing but footprints.” This statement is the quintessence of Haglöfs’ dedication to helping develop a more sustainable world.

The partnership reinforces Silversea’s commitment to offering guests a green expedition experience that both meets and surpasses their expectations by providing an unforgettable voyage of discovery and wonder.

The jackets’ inner layer features Haglöfs’ trademark Quad+ Fusion TM technology and a soft-shell outer layer made of Pertex® Microlight technology bring warmth and insulation thanks to a perfect balance of lightweight softness, durability and water resistance.

Conrad Combrink, director of expedition planning and strategic development, said: “We pride ourselves on being able to honour our guests with industry leading expertise while on board our expedition voyages. The new complimentary Haglöfs jackets represent the finest outdoor wear available, allowing our guests to fully experience all weather environments in comfort and style. Our butlers will be pleased to help our guests to easily pack the jackets thanks to a self-folding mechanism, while their extra-light weight will not represent any obstacle in bringing them back home. The use of the jackets for outdoor activities will hold fond memories of discovery and adventure for our guests long after their voyage has ended.”

Silversea Expeditions is a leader in the expedition cruise industry, offering luxury all-inclusive voyages while visiting some of the most remote regions on the planet. The knowledge of the onboard expedition leaders, combined with the endorsement and enrichment of the onboard lectures by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), allows guests to experience the finest in adventure and expedition cruising.

KIRKWALL, ORKNEY • The UK’s most popular cruise ship destination • 280% passenger growth in 5 years • 2016 will witness the 1500th port call and the arrival of the 750,000th passenger

For further information contact: Michael Morrison Email: michael.morrison@orkney.gov.uk

www.orkneyharbours.com Scotland’s ports face global competition to get onto the itineraries of cruise operators. However, if Orkney’s experience with the Port of Kirkwall is anything to go by, Scottish ports have plenty of reasons to feel confident that they can attract new operators against any opposition. As Michael Morrison, Business Development Manager with Orkney Islands Council Marine Services explains, in 2013 Orkney was runner up in the Sea Trade Global Destination of the Year award, not bad for an island with a total population of around 22,000 people.

“We were up against ports in the South of France and the east coast of the United States, for example, and for Orkney to get a runner up slot facing that kind of global competition was fantastic. It gave us tremendous media coverage and it raised the profile of the port, helping cruise operators in Europe and the US to realize just how much cruise business we are generating here,” he comments.

Morrison reckons that Kirkwall and Orkney now have such a strong presence and following among a large spectrum of cruise ship operators that Orkney now appears as a “must-do” destination either for the maiden voyage of newly launched cruise ships or at the least, during their first year of operation.

“In 2013 we opened the extension to our existing Hatston Pier outside Kirkwall. The extension means that we now have the longest deep-water commercial berth in Scotland at 385 metres long, with a 10.5 metre draught at Chart Datum (lowest tidal point) which gives us another metre of clearance beyond that,” he says. With this depth of water and given the length of the extended pier, Hatston can now play host to the largest cruise liners in the world, which gives the port an additional appeal, Morrison points out.

As Morrison points out, while cruise ship operators love the fact that Orkney is rich in history, visitor attractions and unspoilt rural scenery, no cruise Captain wants or would long tolerate a rustic service from the port when it comes to berthing facilities. “We put a tremendous amount of effort into ensuring that we deliver a world class service. We talk constantly to the crew and senior officers of

cruise ships that call here and we value their feedback and act on it,” Morrison says.

“Just the other day I watched a cruise liner here taking on large quantities of local produce. Orkney is synonymous with great seafood and beef and cruise lines like to top up with local supplies. They buy local and they buy in quantity, which is great for our farmers and the fishing sector,” he comments.

One of the challenges the island faces, and it is not unique to Orkney, is coping with the 3,000 to 5,000 tourists a cruise liner can land on what would otherwise be a normal week-day or week-end. “We can field about 26 coaches at any one time but it is a real challenge and we work hard to ensure that there is minimal disruption when a liner is in port, to people just wanting to get to work or go about their normal business,” he says. “We focus on the independent passenger as much as on those doing organized tours. We lay on a complementary shuttle service from the port to the town centre, plus we have a “meet and greet” service and provide tourists with guides to Orkney and its attractions in six languages.”

Increasingly, Orkney is getting onto the itinerary of operators who are making their first ever stop at the port. “This year, for example, the Disney Magic came to the UK for the first time and the only port it came to in the UK was Kirkwall, so that was a huge accolade for us. The Disney Magic was in the North Atlantic and wanted a flavor of Scotland before they went home, so we were delighted to accommodate them,” he notes.

One feature that is becoming very noticeable, he says, are the numbers of Asian passengers and Russian passengers choosing to go on cruise holidays. “The Asians will fly to Europe to start their cruise. Cruising is still very much a new phenomenon in Asia and a lot of the cruise lines are chasing this emerging market business. I anticipate it generating substantial additional growth,” he concludes.

Cunard announces new 2016 voyages in Europe and the Mediterranean on Queen Victoria

Emirates Announces Service to Panama City Emirates, a global connector of people, places and economies, today announced its plans to launch services to Panama City, beginning 1st February, 2016. The new service will be the longest non-stop flight in the world (17 hours 35 minutes in the Westbound direction) and will be Emirates’ first gateway destination in Central America.

Service to Panama City, Panama’s capital and largest city by population, will commence with a daily flight operated by a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft in a 3-class layout - 8 in First, 42 in Business, and 216 in Economy.

The aircraft can carry up to 15 tonnes of cargo. Key imports to the country include pharmaceuticals, machinery products, iron/steel rods, and electronics. Service to Panama City will operate through Tocumen International Airport (PTY).

Both a vibrant metropolis and gateway to tropical destinations, Panama City is also the economic and financial centre of the country with the major industries being international banking, commerce, and tourism.

Ideally located between North and South America, as well as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Panama City has developed an unrivalled transportation and communication network. It operates two of the busiest ports in Latin America, including the Colon Free Trade Zone - the world’s second largest free trade zone. Additionally, the ongoing expansion of the Panama Canal has helped contribute to Panama’s economic growth in recent years.

“Panama City will be our first destination gateway in Central America, providing a convenient option for our passengers travelling from or through our global hub in Dubai and onward to destinations throughout Central America, the Caribbean and the northern part of South America,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group. “We’re also pleased to be the only commercial airline to offer a daily, First Class service to travellers on what will be the world’s longest non-stop flight.”

“It is gratifying to see how diplomatic efforts focused on generating development and prosperity for Panama materialise,” said Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado, Vice President of the Republic of Panama. “New doors to the country will open with a direct connection to the Middle East - a strong and thriving region with great synergies to both Panama and Latin America.”

“This new direct flight between Dubai and Panama City will connect Latin America with the Middle East, Asia and Africa,” explained Eduardo Fonseca Ward, Consul General of the Republic of Panama, in Dubai. “This link will generate a broader global network with countless commercial and cultural opportunities for the two regions. It has been a pleasure to work with the Emirates team, who have shared the vision of Panama and Dubai as hubs of trade, prosperity and hope.”

Later this year, Emirates will be adding 4 additional routes to its global network including Mashhad, Iran and Orlando in September; Bamako, Mali in October; and Bologna in November.

Cunard has announced a selection of new sevennight Europe and nine to 12-night Mediterranean voyages on Queen Victoria’s 2016 itinerary. Guests will now have the choice of exploring the very best of Europe and the Mediterranean by starting their voyages in Barcelona or Istanbul as well as Southampton, Rome and Venice.

In 2016, Queen Victoria will venture to the Mediterranean to explore the history and vibrant local cultures during several nine to 12-night voyages.

Whether it’s a nine night tour of Spain, Italy and France, or a 12-night voyage through the Adriatic, visiting Italy and Barcelona, the Mediterranean offers some of the most beautiful locations in the world to explore. In addition, many of Queen Victoria’s 2016 Mediterranean Voyages highlight overnight stays in Venice and Istanbul and feature a diverse selection of excursions ashore, including the opportunity to experience the open air opera in Verona.

Cunard’s Marketing Director, Angus Struthers said: “There is nothing quite like touring the Mediterranean with the sense of occasion, elegance and romance of a Cunard Queen. We are therefore delighted to give more choice to guests with the addition of these exciting new itineraries, as well as the opportunity to start their holidays from the iconic cities of Barcelona and Istanbul.”

Norwegian Cruise Line named “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for Eighth Consecutive Year

Norwegian Cruise Line has been named “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the eighth consecutive year by the World Travel Awards, and also received Europe’s Sustainable Tourism Award for Norwegian Epic.

The annual awards, held on 5 September 2015 in Sardinia, Italy, recognise travel companies for delivering an outstanding customer experience and are voted for by travel agents and consumers worldwide.

Norwegian, which has been honoured with the accolade since 2008, has deployed four Freestyle Cruising vessels in Europe this summer for the fourth consecutive year.

“Receiving this award for an extraordinary eighth year in a row is a testament to Norwegian’s unique cruise experience, and our wide variety of exciting itinerary options,” said Christian Boell, Managing Director EMEA, Norwegian Cruise Line.

“This award is recognition of all the team’s hard work and the freedom and flexibility Norwegian offers the customer. We’re so proud to be named Europe’s Leading Cruise Line once again.”

Britannia to star on UKTV’s Battlechefs show Marco Pierre White is set to judge the cooking skills of celebrities including Alex James and Keith Duffy in competitive new travelling cookery show set at sea. P&O Cruises newest ship Britannia is to be the star of Battlechefs, from award-winning television network UKTV. P&O Cruises is teaming up with Spark Media to bring the show to its flagship entertainment channel Watch. The show will see ten amateur celebrity chefs including Alex James (Blur), Keith Duffy (Boyzone) and John Partridge (EastEnders) board Britannia and take it in turns to command the kitchen. Their talents will be judged by British celebrity chef and P&O Cruises Food Hero Marco Pierre White.

Filmed over two Mediterranean cruises on Britannia, each itinerary will be host to its own self-contained competition featuring five celebrities, who will each assume the role of head chef and prepare a meal for the Captain and his VIP guests. In each episode, we follow the untrained chefs as the ship sails from port to port they discover charming and captivating stories about each location and the food that is grown and produced locally.

Using the new cooking techniques they’ve learnt, they will each try to impress the Captain with their skills. Their competitors will help prepare the meal, but as they also get a chance to score each other, will they play tactically as they fight it out to become Battlechefs Champion?

For more information on Norwegian Cruise Line, or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 0845 201 8900 or visit www.ncl.co.uk.

The new series was ordered by Dave General Manager, Steve North. In partnership with P&O Cruises, the show was brokered by UKTV’s Director of Commercial Partnerships, Sally Quick, Spark Media Partner founders Mark Baker and Steve Havers and P&O Cruises Marketing Director, Christopher Edgington.

Photographed below: [Francesco Paradisi, Senior Manager Business Development (right centre) collecting the awards from Graham Cooke, President & Founder, World Travel Awards (left centre)]

UKTV Commissioning Editor Victoria Summer commented, “Travel, food and healthy competition come together in Battlechefs. It’s an energetic show which centres on challenge and good-hearted rivalry, which sits perfectly alongside Watch viewer favourites such as the hugely popular Masterchef Australia. Seeing whether our celebs can pull off the menus they’re given against the clock is going to be very entertaining.”

P&O Cruises marketing director Christopher Edgington said, “We are very excited to be making Battlechefs on Britannia. Watch provides an ideal audience to encourage newcomers to cruising and will showcase our food ethos. Our cookery school on board provides the perfect backdrop for the show as the celebrities prepare speciality dishes from around the Med.” UKTV’s Sally Quick added, “We’re very excited to be announcing our first advertiserfunded programme for Watch. We work within the commissioning team to keep the brands really close to the action of making brilliant, must-watch TV. We are delighted to be working with P&O Cruises and Spark Media on this project, they both really understand how to make great content.”

Spark Media’s Mark Baker said, “Battlechefs is part travelogue and part game show. It’s a TV hybrid that features celebs who are passionate about food. They’ll be on Britain’s biggest cruise liner as it tours the Med in the world’s first floating cookery competition.”

Battlechefs will air on Watch in 2016. It joins a raft of new content coming to the channel including Singing in the Rainforest, starring well-known celebrities including Myleene Klass and the Happy Mondays, Nigel Marvin’s Cruise Ship Adventures, which travels to some of the world’s most exotic locations discovering incredible wildlife and top rating US acquisition Secrets and Lies.

Carnival Cruise Lines announces enhanced internet access, including new social media packages, to be rolled out in 2016 Carnival Cruise Line’s new social media Internet packages – which offer access to a variety of popular websites for just $5 a day – are now available on more than half of the line’s ships with fleetwide implementation scheduled by the first quarter of 2016.

Additionally, the line’s new mobile app – currently available on Carnival Breeze and offering an innovative “chat” feature – has been very well received with a third of the ship’s guests actively using the app during their cruise. The app is expected to be available on five additional ships by the end of the year and will be fleetwide by summer 2016.

Gabriela Gonzalez, Carnival’s vice president of guest technology said: “Fast, affordable and reliable social media channels and the Internet has become an essential on cruise ships. We have thoughtfully approached this area to ensure we are providing options that guests sailing throughout our fleet find truly valuable and reliable.”

Currently available on 13 ships, Carnival Cruise Line’s enhanced Internet access offers dramatically increased bandwidth and speed while the cruise industry’s first social media package provides unlimited access to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Pinterest and other popular sites for just $5 per day with discounted plans available for the entire cruise.

Unlike other shipboard Internet packages, Carnival’s social media package is unique in that it allows guests a convenient, flexible and highly affordable option for updating their favourite social media channels during their cruise at one low price.

There is also a “value” plan that includes unlimited access to the Web for checking email, sports scores, weather updates and a wide range of other applications. Along with a “premium” package that provides the fastest available connection speed and allows access to video calling sites like Skype.

The new Carnival HUB mobile app currently on Carnival Breeze provides guests with a convenient, at-a-glance view of the ship’s many facilities and features along with updates on events and happenings taking place on-board, all available free of charge. Available for download at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the app also includes an innovative “chat” feature that allows guests to exchange messages with their traveling companions using their mobile devices for a flat fee of $5 for the entire cruise.

The app also includes day-by-day schedules of hundreds of on-board events, information on food and drink venues, searchable deck plans, itinerary details, Sail & Sign account balance and more. Recently added options include the ability to pre-purchase the line’s Cheers! and Bottomless Bubbles beverage programmes and upload photos to be displayed on Carnival Breeze’s 270-square-foot Seaside Theatre during the voyage. Additional features are scheduled to be added in the future.

IT Improvements Enable CPS To Enhance Passenger Car Parking Services Southampton-based Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS) has strengthened its position as the UK’s leading valet parking company for serving cruise ship passengers by upgrading bespoke hardware and software systems used by operatives at each of its ports.

CPS has operations at Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Oban in Scotland, ensuring the safe keeping of some 75,000 cars while passengers are away.

Having booked to park and store their vehicles through the dedicated CPS call centre at Totton or via the CPS website, cruise passengers arrive at their respective cruise terminals with their details and vehicle information downloaded to CPS operatives who meet them on berth.

vehicle’s registration. A key tag containing a bar code is presented to the customer and the bar code is scanned to confirm receipt of the vehicle. Photographs are then taken of the vehicle to verify any future claims and the vehicles are driven by CPS operatives to By introducing new handsets and upgrading the accompanying nearby secure car parks. Bookings can also be taken on site using a software, CPS has increased the scope of check-in and check-out purpose-developed app that links back via the handset to the call services and improved the operatives’ ability to manage passenger centre server. bookings on berth.

While their owners are cruising, vehicles can be cleaned and CPS Call Centre Manager Rob Preston explained: “The new maintenance and minor repairs, ranging from Surestart to tyre software has been developed entirely by our in-house IT and exhaust replacement or windscreen replacement to cosmetic specialists and is being utilised at both the call centre and on damage repair, carried out before owners collect their vehicles on berth. Combined with the new hardware sets, it enables our return. operatives to carry out their work more efficiently and enhances our service to passengers.”

CPS services around 300 cruise ship calls every year and is expanding its services to other UK ports, employing similar CPS reception staff on berth use the new Motorola handsets, advanced technologies. The company holds the prestigious Park with upgraded CPS software, to verify booking by entering the Mark accreditation for its services at ports throughout the UK.

Award-Winning Royal Caribbean International Introduces Royal Suite Class Experience Royal Caribbean International, the award-winning cruise line known for its ground-breaking ship designs, GOLD Anchor service, top-calibre entertainment and exclusive onboard attractions, today announced the launch of Royal Suite Class, designed for the most discerning adventurers.

While holidaying in the new range of innovative accommodations, guests will enjoy an experience like no other, featuring a wide range of benefits and amenities that they would expect from a world-class luxury getaway.

“The new Royal Suite Class redefines luxury at sea with exceptional experiences that discerning travellers will appreciate,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

“We offer some of the most amazing and unique suites aboard the most revolutionary ships, and with Royal Suite Class we are creating an experience that is both inviting and invigorating, for guests seeking a luxurious adventure.”

Along with deluxe accommodation, Royal Suite Class will offer guests a range of exclusive amenities based on three tiered service levels. Premium features include: • A Royal Genie, certified by the British Butler Institute to

meet guests’ every need • Free VOOM, the fastest internet at sea • Complimentary specialty dining • An ultimate beverage package • Inclusive gratuities • Preferred seating at select onboard venues • Upgraded room amenities The Royal Suite Class will be available on sailings from May 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Quantum-class ships, Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas. The service will also be available on new ships Harmony of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas when they launch in spring 2016.

The Royal Suite Class comprises three service levels based on suite category: Star Class, Sky Class and Sea Class.

• The Star Class includes the most comprehensive collection of facilities and services and the most expansive, state-of-the-art accommodation, such as Quantum-class’ two-deck high Royal Loft Suite, along with the Owner’s Loft Suite, Four Bedroom Family Suite, Grand Loft Suite, Sky Loft Suite and Two Bedroom AquaTheatre Suite.

• The Sky Class features a selection of inclusive amenities in beautifully furnished staterooms such as the AquaTheatre Suite, Crown Loft Suite, Owner’s Suite, Royal Family Suite, Superior Grand Suite and Grand Suite.

• The Sea Class includes premium touches in spacious suites such as the Family Connected Junior Suite, Family Junior Suite, Spa Junior Suite and Junior Suite.

Guests booked in to Royal Suite Class will experience a range of exclusive offerings based on their suite category that include: • Superior Service: a ‘first’ for Royal Caribbean, Star Class guests will receive the new complimentary Royal Genie service.

The Royal Genie, trained and certified by the British Butler Institute, will serve as a personal assistant to help guests with nearly everything and anything, 24 hours a day. Royal Genies take care of restaurant and show reservations, in-room dining requests, and any other needs – from laundry, ironing and shoe shining, to luggage handling and unpacking. In addition, the Royal Genie will pamper guests with handcrafted cocktails made insuite as well as assist in creating and reserving customised shore excursions.

• Upgraded Amenities: guests in the Royal Suite Class will enjoy the ultimate ‘home away from home’ with upgraded amenities, such as Hermès, Ferragamo and L’OCCITANE bath products and luxury pillow top mattresses. Star Class guests will be able to relax in their suites with exclusive Duxiana DUX mattresses and Frette linens.

• Personalised Experiences: luxury is defined by personal experiences and onboard a Royal Caribbean ship it is embodied by the crew and unmatched tailored service – from a personalised welcome gift to a guest’s favourite cocktail before dinner, guests will feel as if all their personal preferences have been met.

• Exclusive and Priority Access: Royal Suite Class guests also will have exclusive access to the California-chic Coastal Kitchen restaurant reserved for Suite guests only. On Royal Caribbean’s private beach paradise Labadee, Haiti, suite guests enjoy access to the exclusive Barefoot Beach and have the ability to reserve private cabanas on the island. Additionally, Star and Sky Class guests enjoy a private Suite Sun Deck and reserved VIP seating in entertainment productions like fully licensed Broadway musicals and Oasis-class’ AquaTheatre high-diving spectaculars.

SMS And Portsmouth International Port Welcome Back Ultra Luxury Cruise Ship Portsmouth International Port (PIP) cruise handling specialists Southern Maritime Services (SMS) have welcomed back the small five-star cruise vessel Hebridean Princess on her first visit to the port in four years.

Carrying some 40 guests, Hebridean Princess and a crew of 38, the exclusive ship made two calls at PIP, initially arriving from Honfleur in France and sailing for Dorset and then returning for another day call in Portsmouth four days later, before sailing to Newhaven as part of an historic maritime discovery voyage finishing in London.

Operated by Hebridean Island Cruises, Hebridean Princess started life as a car ferry and Royal Mail ship and was based in Oban for the first 25 years of her life. However, an extensive conversion to an ultra luxury cruise ship saw her refitted with 30 spacious, elegant and well-appointed cabins.

She now carries out itineraries around the UK coast, in particular the Western Isles of Scotland, during the summer. SMS General Manager Alex Fernandez explained: “The small number of guests on board makes Hebridean Princess a unique cruise ship, more like a private yacht, and we tailor our services accordingly.

As ship’s agents, we look after passenger excursions during their day in Portsmouth and provide any required bespoke services to support the ship’s exclusive status.”

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Names Marla Phaneuf Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, North America Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced that Marla Phaneuf has joined the organization as Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, North America. Phaneuf will be responsible for CLIA’s strategic alliances and work with partners to ensure member engagement and satisfaction.

Phaneuf brings more than two decades of leadership experience to the role and joins CLIA from Celebrity Cruises where she served as Team Director for the New England region. At Celebrity Cruises, she worked to build brand awareness and has an extensive background in generating new business and increasing sales.

Prior to her role at Celebrity Cruises, Phaneuf worked at the American Automobile Association (AAA) and owned a travel agency.

“Marla’s drive and passion for building successful partnerships and teams, coupled with her impressive background in the cruise industry, will be an incredible addition to our team,” said Cindy D’Aoust, Acting CEO, CLIA. As Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Phaneuf will oversee all business development and retention strategies, including identifying and marketing the value of CLIA to potential Executive Partners. She also will develop strategic marketing alliances with organizations that focus on CLIA North America travel agent community.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages Marco Polo cruise ship back in Montreal celebrating 50 years since the first voyage from Leningrad to Montreal Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) is proud that today, Thursday 13 August, its iconic ship Marco Polo is in Montréal. Marco Polo is celebrating 50 years since the vessel was launched as Alexandr Pushkin, named after the Russian poet. In 1966 the ship began a series of epic voyages from Leningrad (now St Petersburg and one of CMV’s most popular cruise calls) to Montréal.

Today is day 21 of a 36 night Commemorative Voyage which departed London Tilbury on 24th July and has visited Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Québec. The 750 guests on board include 500 regular CMV passengers who are members of the Columbus Club loyalty programme. Such is the following for this ‘grand lady’ that many people return to sail on her year-after-year. This year the company produced a 100 page commemorative book about the ship that has been very popular.

Chris Coates, Commercial Director CMV based in Britain, said “For some in Canada our name may not be that familiar, however, back in the UK we are now a firm favourite for those seeking a traditional British cruise experience departing from London Tilbury and seven other British ports. That means providing delicious cuisine, great entertainment, affordable pricing and good old fashioned customer service. ” The company offer four small to medium size cruise ships – Magellan, Azores, Astor and Marco Polo, in addition there is a choice of three premium river boats that operate under the CMV Signature River Cruise brand discovering many of the most beautiful and scenic parts of Europe.

Chris Coates said “This is a proud day for CMV to be here in Montréal for such a memorable occasion. Throughout her 50 years, the legendary Marco Polo has literally sailed the ‘seven seas’ and probably visited more ports of call than any other cruise liner. It is no surprise that more than 500 passengers from our loyalty club are celebrating this Commemorative Voyage.”

Emirates Aviation Experience Gets a First Class Upgrade Greenwich-based attraction installs state-of-the-art Rolls Royce engine and brand new flight simulator destinations London, UK – 17 August, 2015 – Emirates Airline’s Londonbased attraction, the Emirates Aviation Experience which provides an insight into the operations and modern achievements of commercial air travel, has recently reopened its doors to visitors following a significant upgrade of its exhibition and flight simulator features.

Built into the exterior of the building is a genuine Rolls Royce Trent 900 Engine which will power the new Emirates fleet of 50 Airbus A380 aircrafts which will be in service from 2016. Inside, the engine is stripped back to display its inner workings, accompanied by an interactive display panel, called ‘Under the Skin’, which lays bare its fundamental workings.

The exhibition’s four commercial flight simulators – two Airbus A380s and two Boeing 777s – also include an additional eight airports for visitors to test their take-off and landing skills. Chosen based on public feedback, first-time flyers can now select from Sydney, Hong Kong, Athens, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Vienna, Singapore and Boston airports as well as the original Heathrow and Dubai experiences.

The simulators provide full landscape visuals plus capture the experience on camera using a new in-built selfie mechanism.

Taking centre stage in the exhibition space is a replica model of the iconic Heathrow Control Tower, originally designed by Londonbased architect Richard Rogers. In addition, a dramatic video wall has been installed which provides a behind the scenes look at how airplane routes are planned and controlled on a global basis. A new display unit examines the Science of flight with interactive content showing visitors exactly how airplanes take to the skies.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said: “The Emirates Aviation Experience has been enjoyed by over almost 200,000 local and foreign visitors over the past two years and we are committed to ensuring that the exhibition remains an innovative attraction. Emirates’ UK operations continue to grow, with eight daily flights and over 2.3 million passengers flying with us from London in the past year.

Through attractions such as this, we want to keep taking people on the exciting journey of air travel.”

Steven Catherall, Experience Manager at Emirates Aviation Experience, said: “Since 2013 the Emirates exhibition has been a key incentive to visit Greenwich, providing individuals, families and school groups alike with a unique insight into the world of aviation.

“Like Emirates’ own aircraft, the exhibition must continue to be at the forefront of aviation technology and showcase Emirates’ world class travel offerings. We look forward to greeting both new and return visitors to the exhibition and providing them with a best-in-class fun and educational aviation experience.”

The Emirates Aviation Experience is open to the public daily from 10:00am–7:00pm. The exhibition is located at the Greenwich Peninsular end of the Emirates Air Line cable car and the closest underground station is North Greenwich.

The Emirates simulator experience starts from £45.00 for a 30 minute slot, when booked in advance online.

Entrance to the Emirates Aviation Experience is £3.00 for adults and £1.50 for children under the age of 12, making it one of the most affordable attractions in London. Online bookings are available via www.aviation-experience.com

Norwegian Escape floats out from building dock Norwegian Escape, soon to be the largest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, was floated out of MEYER WERFT’s covered building dock II on Saturday 15 August in Papenburg, Germany, where the 164,600-ton ship has been under construction since September 2014. Beginning at approximately 9:15am local time, the 4,200 passenger vessel, with her signature hull artwork designed by famed marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey, departed building dock II. Norwegian Escape is the first ship in the line’s Breakaway Plus Class, measuring 1,098 feet in length and 136 feet wide.

Norwegian Escape’s float out represents a major milestone in the vessel’s construction, with the ship being well on her way to completion she will now move into the final phase of construction with delivery taking place on 22 October 2015.

“MEYER WERFT has done an excellent job with the construction of Norwegian Escape,” Norwegian Cruise Line’s President and Chief Operating Officer Andy Stuart said. “The ship’s float out brings us one step closer to bringing the next evolution of Freestyle Cruising to the world and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Following the ship’s float out, the next milestones will be mounting the ship’s signature Norwegian Cruise Line funnel and taking thrills

to new heights by adding a third story to Norwegian Escape’s ropes course - due to be the largest at sea. Norwegian Escape’s conveyance down the river Ems towards the North Sea is scheduled for 16 September (weather permitting).

Following inaugural events in Europe and Miami, Norwegian Escape will sail seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises departing every Saturday from Miami beginning on 14 November 2015.

From the ship’s eye-catching hull artwork to thrilling waterslides and ropes course, Norwegian Escape, as the first ship in the Breakaway Plus Class, represents a true evolution for the Norwegian brand, incorporating guest favourites and providing further freedom and flexibility for guests.

New Hurtigruten ship named MS Spitsbergen Norwegian explorer cruise company, Hurtigruten, has announced that its newest ship will be named ‘MS Spitsbergen’ after the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago. This very northernmost part of Norway is also where, in 1896, Hurtigruten’s founder Richard With first started explorer tourism in the Arctic.

The name was chosen following a competition in which more than 15,000 suggestions were submitted from all over the world.

CEO Daniel Skjeldam commented “We find MS Spitsbergen to be a very appropriate name as it ties together our history and presentday Hurtigruten. As early as in 1896, Hurtigruten founder and tourism entrepreneur Richard With built a hotel in Spitsbergen and established “The Sport route” with sailings from Hammerfest to Spitsbergen, operated by steamship DS Lofoten. Having built on this heritage, today we are world leading operator of nature-based experiences along the Norwegian coast, in the waters around Antarctica and in the Arctic.“ Explorer tourism is a fast growing industry. MS Spitsbergen adds greater flexibility to Hurtigruten’s global operations as the company now operates two ships offering guests unique nature and culture experiences around the poles as well as 11 ships along the Norwegian coast. In the high North, Hurtigruten now offer voyages around Greenland and Iceland, as well as around Spitsbergen. In the extreme South, Hurtigruten sail guests from South America to the waters around Antarctica.

MS Spitsbergen will initially replace MS Midnatsol on Hurtigruten’s traditional coastal route when she sails down to Antarctica in Autumn 2016. In future it is expected that the new addition will alternate between the coastal route and polar expeditions.

Names from all over the world CEO Daniel Skjeldam describes the reception of the naming contest as overwhelming. “We have been virtually flooded with suggestions. In addition to posts on the web, we have received letters and postcards, telephones and e-mails and text messages. We have even forthright been stopped on the street. Most proposals of course come from Norway, from continental Europe, especially Germany, and from the UK. But suggestions also came in from the US, Australia, New Zealand and from Asian countries. It makes us grateful and proud that people from all corners of the world feel such an ownership to Hurtigruten.”

The winner of the naming contest, who will be the captain’s guest on a special sailing of MS Spitsbergen, is Erlend Baldersheim (33) from the village of Baldersheim, close to Bergen.

The newest addition to the fleet will have a capacity of 320 guests and 180 berths. The guest area will offer stylish cabins and modern common areas, making it possible to experience the spectacular polar scenery in comfortable surroundings.

Crystal Yacht Cruises Opens Bookings To All Luxury Travellers Starting this month, travellers can book their luxury yachting holiday with Crystal Yacht Cruises, the most recent innovation from the world’s most awarded cruise line.

As Crystal Esprit charts new waters with its maiden voyage this winter, Crystal Cruises is unveiling the complete itineraries and fares for 2016 through the beginning of 2018. The routes were first made available for booking exclusively for Crystal Society members – Crystal’s repeat guest programme – and is open to all travellers as of 1st September.

The new routes mark Crystal’s first-ever offering of immersive itineraries focused in warm waters and reaching remote and coveted destinations not easily reached by larger cruise ships. The extravagantly appointed yacht – outfitted for adventure both onboard and ashore – is set to call in ports never before visited by Crystal’s acclaimed ocean vessels, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.

On seven-night itineraries that reposition seasonally, Crystal Esprit will take guests to stunning locations including the Seychelles, Adriatic Coast, Oman, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, immersing guests in the destinations. The yacht’s first guests will sail 23rd December 2015 on a route round-trip from Mahé/Victoria, Seychelles, with visits to neighboring islands. The yacht’s maiden voyage offers an inclusive post- and pre- cruise New Year’s Eve Extravaganza in Dubai, complete with a three- or four-night stay at the extraordinary Dubai Taj Hotel plus spectacular fireworks display Most of Crystal Esprit’s seven-night itineraries have been specifically developed and deployed to allow travellers to combine two voyages into longer 14-night holidays.

Crystal Cruises Unveils Culinary Concept For Crystal Esprit Crystal Yacht Cruises, the upcoming luxury yachting experience from the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line, is sparing no measure of luxury including the culinary offerings on the new vessel.

Crystal has unveiled the culinary concept for the 62-guest Crystal Esprit, which focuses heavily on quality local ingredients from the Seychelles Islands and Mediterranean coast, and showcases many of the favourite dishes served on the line’s acclaimed ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. The yacht will set sail in December 2015 with an elegant and eclectic menu of globally inspired Michelin starred cuisine for its discerning guests, from extraordinary seafood cuisine on the al fresco terrace to decadent pastries, snacks, espresso and wine in the charming corner bar.

88,500-Ton Carnival Pride to Return to Tampa Carnival Cruise Lines 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride will return to the Port of Tampa to operate a series of five- to 14-day voyages in January and February 2017, providing consumers with an exciting variety of “Fun Ship” holiday choices from this popular Florida port.

Carnival Pride has undergone a multi-million-pound renovation that added consumer favourites like Guy’s Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network Star Guy Fieri, the full-service Bonsai Sushi, and BlueIguana Cantina serving authentic Mexican fare, along with innovative drink concepts like the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub, and the poolside BlueIguana Tequila Bar and RedFrog Rum Bar. A massive WaterWorks Aqua Park highlighted by Green Thunder, the fastest and steepest water slide at sea, being added as well.

Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president said: “Tampa is a popular port for ‘Fun Ship’ cruising and we’re thrilled that the Carnival Pride is returning to the port to operate this series of five- to 14-day cruises which feature visits to top destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. These cruises also provide our valued travel agent partners with exciting new holiday choices to market to their clients.”

Five- to Seven-Day Cruises from Tampa Carnival Pride will operate a series of seven-day cruises from Tampa departing 15th, 22nd and 29th January and 19th February, 2017, visiting some of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, including Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; and George Town, Grand Cayman. Carnival Pride will also offer a five-day cruise round-trip from Tampa 14th-19th February, 2017, calling at Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Each of these destinations are world-renowned for their beautiful beaches, wide range of sightseeing choices and excellent water sports opportunities.

Special 13- and 14-Day Carnival Journeys Cruises from Baltimore and Tampa Prior to its deployment to Tampa, Carnival Pride will operate a 13-day Carnival Journeys cruise departing Baltimore 2nd January and arriving in Tampa 15th January, 2017. Ports of call include Grand Turk, B.W.I.; Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama (including optional excursions to the Panama Canal); Limon, Costa Rica; Mahogany Bay; Cozumel and the Caribbean’s newest destination, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, which serves as the gateway to one of the world’s most breath-taking cruising regions.

A 14-day Carnival Journeys voyage will depart Tampa 26th February, visiting Cozumel, Limon, Colon, Aruba, Bonaire, and St. Maarten before arriving in Baltimore 12th March, 2017. Following this voyage, Carnival Pride will resume its year-round schedule of seven-day cruises from Baltimore beginning 12th March, 2017.

Carnival Journeys is a unique collection of longer length voyages featuring spectacular ports of call and unique on-board activities created especially for this one-of-a-kind cruise programme. In addition to experiencing and exploring ports of call throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, Carnival Journeys guests can enjoy local culinary experiences, participate in exclusive team member Q&As and special activities, including a fun-filled “throwback sea day” with retro activities and old school dining options from the 1980s.

Crystal Cruises Expands Free Wi-Fi For All Luxury Travellers Crystal Cruises announced yesterday that it will expand complimentary Internet access to all of its luxury guests.

Beginning 30th August on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, Crystal will provide one free hour per guest per day for Deluxe Stateroom and Penthouse guests and 90 minutes for Penthouse Suite guests. With additional free access to Crystal’s 24-hour satellite-enabled wireless Internet – which will also be available aboard Crystal Yacht Cruises’ Crystal Esprit when the maiden voyage embarks on 23rd December 23 2015 – travellers can remain connected while on holiday, whether on their own devices or utilising one of the ships’ cutting edge work stations or portable laptop rentals which are available for a nominal fee.

“While some travellers like to ‘unplug’ on holiday, many of our guests wish to stay connected while travelling, whether for business purposes, to stay in touch with loved ones or to share their Crystal experiences along their journeys,” says President & CEO Edie Rodriguez. “It is always our goal to make life aboard our ships as effortless and comfortable as possible for our guests, and amenities like free Internet go a long way to help those efforts.”

For guests seeking additional time online, Crystal offers four convenient packages to suit their needs:

• • • •

Plan A: “Pay As You Go” for $0.74 per min Plan B: 2 hours (120 minutes) for $55 ($0.46 per min) Plan C: 5 hours (300 minutes) for $127 ($0.43 per min) Plan D: 10 hours (600 minutes) for $220 ($0.37 per min)

Last year, Crystal installed improvements to the onboard experience, including: • Maximising satellite bandwidth with the latest

technology, allowing for more users and more content to

stream simultaneously.

• Expansion of Wi-Fi signal range throughout the ships,

making wireless connection available everywhere on

board, including all staterooms, public

spaces and outdoor decks.

• The ability to access internet in areas that were

previously unavailable, such as Japan.

The free Wi-Fi perk was previously available only to Crystal Society Members, the line’s repeat guest loyalty programme.

The world’s most awarded cruise line has long been celebrated for its onboard technological offerings, including the Computer University@Sea facilities, equipped with state-of-the-art Mac/ Windows dual-compatible computers and expert staff on hand for instruction and assistance. Specially designed classes offer curriculum tailored toward novice and expert users, with topics ranging from basic operating systems and use of smart phones and other devices, to digital photo and video editing and website design.

Scenic and Emerald Waterways Set Sail For Success With The Appointment Of New Sales Manager In Midlands SCENIC and Emerald Waterways are delighted to announce the appointment of new Sales Manager, Dawn Quinn, who will take up the position and oversee agents within the Midlands region to help support the growing success of both brands’ trade operations.

With many years experience within the travel industry, holding several senior roles in key companies within the sector, including the prestigious position of Cruise Commercial Manager at Co-operative Travel Trading Group, Dawn is a fantastic addition to the team who brings with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

As Central Sales Manager, Dawn will act as a brand ambassador for Scenic and Emerald Waterways within the Central UK travel agent network. The role will involve developing strong and productive working relationships by providing sales support, advice and training, enabling agents to maximise their river cruise sales.

She said: “I’m delighted to take up the position of Sales Manager and to be working with Scenic and Emerald Waterways. Both companies offer a fantastic service and selection of cruise itineraries and tours across the world.”

David Winterton, Brand Manager for Emerald Waterways, said: “We identified a key opportunity within the Central UK region, which is crucial to our future development and sales strategy, and overall we are striving for 30% of overall sales to come from this territory in 2016.

“For that reason a new manager role was necessary in order to help nurture growth within the region. So we are very excited to have Dawn on board and feel that with her vast experience she will undoubtedly be a major asset and help steer the team to continued success.”

Heart Pounding, Ground Breaking Slides and Aquatic Adventures Unveiled On Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas Royal Caribbean International has today revealed that Harmony of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, will be the first ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet to feature Splashaway Bay, an interactive aqua park for kids.

• Splashaway Bay will join Ultimate Abyss, a 10 storey slide and The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, as the latest in a thrilling collection of activities that will make Harmony of the Seas the ultimate family holiday experience.

• Splashaway Bay will be a vibrant waterpark for kids and toddlers with sea creature water cannons, winding slides, a giant drench bucket and a multi-platform climbing frame to keep everyone entertained for hours.

• Guests of all ages will get the ultimate heart pounding thrill ride on Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea which boasts a dramatic 100 foot plunge that begins in the Pool and Sports Zone and journeys down to the Boardwalk neighbourhood below.

• Spiralling five decks above the open-air Central Park in the centre of the ship, waterslides Supercell, Typhoon and Cyclone come together as The Perfect Storm, inviting guests to slide into an incredible adventure. Thrill seekers can test their mettle on Supercell, a champagne bowl slide which swirls guests around as they descend towards a big splash finale.

Harmony of the Seas will be the first in a new generation of Oasis class ships which combines groundbreaking architectural innovation with breakthrough technologies found on Quantum class ships.

The ship will arrive in May 2016 for her inaugural summer season, showcasing Europe’s most popular cruise destinations on sevennight Western Mediterranean itineraries calling at Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Provence, Florence and Pisa, Rome and Naples. In November 2016, Harmony of the Seas will arrive at her homeport of Fort Lauderdale, Florida offering seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings.

Harmony of the Seas will be home to the seven distinct neighbourhoods for which Oasis class ships are known and feature technological advancements now synonymous with the award-winning cruise line. Revolutionary features include the Bionic Bar dancing robot bartenders on the Royal Promenade; Virtual Balconies in many interior staterooms offering sea and port views; Royal WOWBands with RFID technology to simplify the guest experience; and VOOM, the fastest internet at sea found exclusively on Royal Caribbean ships.

Catering to every culinary desire, Harmony of the Seas will offer the most dining options at sea, including new specialty restaurants Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, Sabor Taqueria and Tequila Bar, and Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, a wonderfully curious setting where Royal Caribbean chefs twist their culinary kaleidoscopes to offer experimental dishes.

Harmony of the Seas will span 16 guest decks, encompass 227,000 gross registered tons, carry 5,479 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,747 staterooms. The Oasis class is an architectural marvel showcasing Royal Caribbean’s exclusive seven neighbourhood concept, including Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. For more information about Harmony of the Seas, please visit RoyalCaribbean.com/HarmonyoftheSeas.

Tony Roberts takes the helm at Princess Cruises for UK and Europe

Following the recent commercial restructure at Carnival UK, Tony Roberts has been appointed vice president for Princess Cruises, UK & Europe.

He replaces Paul Ludlow who has joined P&O Cruises as senior vice president, sales & marketing.

Roberts, 40, has worked for Carnival UK for the past 15 years, most recently as director of technology partnering. Prior to this he held various other positions within the business, including roles in sales, customer services and finance. He has initiated and launched a number of major projects alongside the commercial, sales and digital teams, including amongst others the introduction of the Polar Online booking systems; the launch of the Travel Agent Academy; and the development of the E-Ticketing and Cruise Personaliser platforms for guests.

Jan Swartz, president at Princess Cruises, said: “I am delighted to appoint Tony to this pivotal role for Princess Cruises. His wealth of experience, including delivering successful projects in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, means he is ideally placed to lead us in the UK and in Europe.”

Tony Roberts said: “It is an honour to be appointed to such a prestigious role, particularly as Princess is thriving in the UK and Europe markets. I will make certain we continue to succeed at every level, as well as ensuring that our guests’ experience is secondto-none from the moment they decide to travel with Princess. I look forward to working with the Princess teams across the globe as well as with those in Carnival UK.” Paul Ludlow said: “Princess is in good hands with Tony and it is a pleasure to hand over to him. He and I will ensure that collaboration between Princess and P&O continues to underpin our activity in order to enhance our position in the global cruise market.”

Ludlow has headed up the Princess UK business since 2011. During that time he led on a number of initiatives, including establishing standalone commercial functions and coordinating the launch of Royal Princess in Southampton by HRH, The Duchess of Cambridge.

Princess Cruises Introduces Specialty Restaurant SHARE by Curtis Stone Princess Cruises today announced its new specialty restaurant, SHARE by Curtis Stone, will soon be introduced on some of its ships. The restaurant is the celebrity chef’s first restaurant at sea. SHARE offers a specialty dining experience for guests with a menu of signature dishes made for sharing, in an environment designed for conversing and creating memories. SHARE is scheduled to debut aboard Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess this December.

This news comes after the recent announcement of Princess Cruises’ exclusive partnership with Chef Stone. As well the introduction of Stone’s new specialty restaurant, through this partnership “Crafted by Curtis” menu items will be offered in the main dining rooms, scheduled to debut aboard Golden Princess in the autumn and roll out fleet-wide through the end of 2015. Furthermore, Curtis Stone’s ‘Chef’s Table experience’ will be introduced in early 2016.

The SHARE dining experience encourages connecting with family, friends and other cruisers by offering intriguing dishes served family style. Designed by Chef Stone, the menu features dishes such as: • A Charcuterie starter course • Butter Roasted Lobster with Caramelized Endive and Endive Foam • Twice Cooked Duck Leg with Fennel, Bacon jus and Parmesan Crumb • Tagliatelle with Roasted Alaskan Crab, Chili and Parsley • Dark Chocolate Cremeux with Toasted Hazelnut Feuilletine and Burnt Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Working closely with Chef Stone and Princess Cruises, world-renowned hospitality designer Jeffrey Beers International has developed a dining ambiance that is a reflection of Chef Stone’s creative vision and stems from his own childhood mealtime experiences, which were as much about family, community and connection as they were about the food itself. By creating a restaurant with a comfortable, homey atmosphere, the design creates an atmosphere where people can create shared moments with one another over a delicious meal.

A signature feature of SHARE is a communal table designed to encourage the sharing of a freshly prepared meal in the company of friends and family. Hand blown glass pendants etched with some of Chef Stone’s favourite recipes cast an intimate glow and creates a warm and celebratory experience. Elements not often seen in cruise ship restaurant interiors add to the friendly atmosphere – lowbacked banquettes, upholstered in luxe Chesterfield tufted leather, and decorative curios from Chef Stone’s own collection including photographs and travel souvenirs to make guests feel even more at home.

Following the debut of SHARE aboard Ruby Princess sailing from Los Angeles on cruises to Hawaii and Mexico and Emerald Princess sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to the Caribbean this December, the roll out will continue aboard Coral Princess cruising the Panama Canal in January 2016 and then Sun Princess in April 2016, which will bring Chef Stone’s restaurant to his home country, Australia.

For more information about the partnership, visit www.princess.com/curtis-stone

Hurtigruten Launches Global CSR Foundation Hurtigruten, who aim to be world leading in sustainable explorer travel in the polar regions, have announced that they are establishing ‘The Hurtigruten Foundation’.

The new project will raise awareness of opportunities and challenges in the the Arctic, Antarctica and along the Norwegian coast, raising funds to respectively exploit or reduce them through a number of initiatives worldwide. Pioneer swimmer and environmental campaigner Lewis Pugh, who is the United Nations appointed “Patron of the Oceans“, has also been announced as the foundation’s first ambassador.

“We want to offer travel with meaning. By having guests, staff, partners and Hurtigruten friends from around the world joining forces, we aim to ensure that future guests can have the same unique experiences in these areas as guests of today”, says Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam.

The introduction of the foundation is a way for the business to formalise many of the environmental projects that are already being undertaken across the business.

On-board auctions have contributed to projects in South Georgia, protection of the Albatross and maintenance of research stations in Antarctica. The company also supports other local initiatives such as ‘Clean up Svalbard’ and the ‘Association of Greenlandic Children’.

These activities run alongside on-going environmental projects, which among other things have resulted in Hurtigruten’s annual emissions of CO2 being reduced by nearly 13,000 tonnes since 2009.

Pioneer swimmer first ambassador The first ambassador of the foundation, UK-born Lewis Pugh has undertaken some spectacular swims all around the world, including in the freezing cold waters of the North Pole and in Antarctica - all to create awareness about how important it is to safeguard the environment of these waters.

By being one of the spearheads of the United Nations Environment Program, he has won access to state leaders all over the world.

He has been appointed “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum and his many strenuous pioneer swims have resulted in National Geographic appointing him to one of their “Adventurers of the Year”.

“Dugnad’ is an unique Norwegian word which means that one works together voluntarily because individuals feel it’s important and for the good of the community. This is exactly what the polar regions need, a good dugnad. I feel confident that through this foundation we will create strong results and make a real difference”, says Mr Pugh.

Beach clean-up This week Lewis Pugh and Daniel Skjeldam together with Hurtigruten-employees and partners, have marked the creation of the foundation by picking up litter on a beach outside Tromso in Norway, north of the Arctic Circle.

“Not many people realise how far plastic bottles can travel by sea. Ocean currents causes a lot of garbage that is thrown out to sea to end up in the polar regions where it threatens local communities, nature and wildlife, such as polar bears and penguins. Therefore it is important to stop littering and to clean up coasts everywhere”, says Pugh.

As part of his ambassador role, Lewis will join selected Hurtigruten voyages, giving lectures and taking part in excursions. His first sailing will be with MS Midnatsol to Antarctica in early winter 2016.

The Telegraph Cruise & Travel Show in Liverpool is just weeks away on 17& 18 October 2015, and we are excited that the show is shaping up to be bigger and better than last year.

We are moving in to the brand new Exhibition Centre Liverpool, located on the Albert Dock, which opens this month and offers more space and facilities for our exhibitors and visitors. We have over 40 exhibitors already confirmed including cruise lines, tourist boards, tour operators, hotels and insurance products. Features at the show include the Cruise Lines Theatre sponsored by Noble Caledonia, the Destinations Theatre featuring Telegraph Travel journalists, Wine Tasting Theatre with local restaurant Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill, Tea & Scones Cafe offering an afternoon tea experience, a Putting Green giving visitors a chance to try their hand at golf, casino experience from Grosvenor Casino with a game of roulette and black jack, exhibits from the National Maritime Museum plus a chance for visitors to take a Cunard Connections walking tour around Liverpool.

We are delighted to be working with Superbreak to promote the show as a weekend break giving visitors the chance to book their show tickets with hotel packages and once again we will be working with Andy and the team at CLIA to offer visitors the chance to book one to one sessions for expert, impartial advice. Tickets are selling very well following our promotions at the Cunard 175 celebrations in Liverpool in May which saw over 7,000 people sign up to receive information about the show. We have the final few stands remaining and pages in the show guide, so if you are keen to get your brand in front of over 10,000 affluent travel enthusiasts and Telegraph readers contact Michelle Daniels, Show Manager on 020 7931 3979 or email michelle.daniels@telegraph.co.uk. For more information about the show and the Telegraph Cruise Show and Telegraph Travel Show in London on 08-10 January 2016 visit cruisetravelshow.telegraph.co.uk

Walsh Tapped to Serve in Florida Ports Council Leadership Position Today, Port Canaveral CEO John Walsh was elected to serve on the 2015-2016 Florida Ports Council Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer. Since joining the Port in 2011, Walsh has directed the planning, engineering, design, construction, and development of hundreds of millions of dollars in capital projects.

Rounding out the Board will be Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson as Chairman and Steve Cernak of Port Everglades who will serve as Vice-Chairman.

A nonprofit corporation, the Florida Ports Council (FPC) serves as the professional association for Florida’s 15 public seaports and their management. Headquartered in Tallahassee, the FPC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the 15 port directors along with staff support. They provide advocacy and information on seaport-related issues before the legislative and executive branches of state and federal government.

“I am honored to be given this opportunity to serve and look forward to working with the rest of the Board as we continue to strengthen and advance the role of seaports as a major economic driver for the State of Florida. The Florida Ports Council is such a vital organization providing leadership and support to all of Florida’s seaports,” said Walsh.

With more than 32 years of construction, design-build, and real estate development experience, Walsh began his tenure with the Port as Deputy Executive Director of Infrastructure before being unanimously approved as CEO in June 2013. He holds a MBA from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, a Graduate Management Certificate from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management from Drexel University.

MSC Cruises Expands Grand Voyage Offering With Back-To-Back Journeys Across Continents MSC Cruises S.A., the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe – including in the Mediterranean – as well as in South America, today revealed plans to make its first sailing to China, with the newly-renovated MSC Lirica calling in Shanghai on 1 May, 2016 after having travelled across continents. The 65,000-GRT ship will make the Company’s maiden call in China’s biggest megalopolis after a 60-day round-the-world Grand Voyage via Europe which departs on 3 March 2016 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises CEO declared: “We are delighted to once more be able to offer our guests a brand new itinerary - from Brazil to China via Europe – which offers the chance to visit some of the most appealing places on earth, certainly across a huge array of people and cultures.”

Mr Onorato added: “This new Grand Voyage offering is proof of our steadfast commitment to offer our experienced guests and holiday-makers innovative and soughtafter destinations. As MSC Cruises continues to expand the destinations it calls – such as Cuba that we recently announced – we are enhancing our global offering while providing travellers best-in-class experiences and service.”

Three different versions of the Grand Voyage, with Shanghai as final destination, will be offered to cruise lovers and eager travellers from 21 August 2015. MSC Cruises’ guests will have the opportunity to depart from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Genoa in Italy or Dubai in the UAE. This new offer of back-to-back Grand Voyages from South America to China via Europe highlights MSC Cruises’ vast offering beyond its core leadership in Europe and the Mediterranean. Indeed, MSC Cruises also offers cruises in the Caribbean, the French Antilles and other sought-after locations around the world from Northern Europe to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman.

Additionally, earlier this month MSC Cruises made the headlines when it announced that, as of December 2015, it will be the first global cruise line to offer travellers the opportunity to visit Cuba and set sail on one of the 16 cruises that MSC Opera will operate from Havana.

Before setting sail, MSC Lirica will have been fully renovated and enlarged under the Renaissance Programme, which entails a comprehensive overhaul programme due to be completed in November 2015. The ship will leave Guanabara Bay and Rio de Janeiro on 3 March 2016 and sail north along the coast of Brazil to Buzios, Salvador, Maceio and Fortaleza before crossing the Atlantic on a northeast course towards the Canary Islands and the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife before reaching mainland Europe and Cadiz, Spain. From there, MSC Lirica will call the three biggest ports in the Mediterranean: Barcelona, Marseille or Genoa. Guests will therefore be able to decide to embark in Europe to journey towards Asia. Thus, MSC Cruises guests will be offered the unique pleasure to sail from Catalonia, Provence or Liguria to the mythical port of Shanghai, the gateway to China and the Far East, on a 41-night journey to the other side of the world.

During this once-in-a-lifetime journey across seas and oceans, the 2,600-guest ship will embark MSC Cruises’ guests in Barcelona, Marseille or Genoa, on a 42-day cruise that will take them to 18 ports in 13 countries, once they have left the shores of Liguria.

From Genoa, MSC Lirica will call Naples (Italy), the island of Crete with Heraklion (Greece), then head south to Aqaba in Jordan, followed by Muscat (Oman), Khor Al Fakhan in the United Arab Emirates followed by an overnight stay in Dubai (also UAE). From the Persian Gulf, the then 65.000GRT-ship will set sail towards the East and the Indian cities of Goa and Cochin, then call Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka, and then journey to Phuket, Thailand, Penang and Port Kenang in Malaysia before arriving in Singapore.

After its stay Singapore, the ship will bring its guests to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam before reaching Hong Kong. From the former British colony, Shanghai will be the next call for an overnight stay to allow MSC Cruises guests, and then head across the China sea to Fukuoka in Japan. From the Land of the Rising Sun, MSC Lirica will head to the high seas for the last time of her journey and return to Shanghai it will arrive on 1 May 2016. For more information see www.msccruises.co.uk or call 020 3426 3010.

River cruises gaining in popularity - Seatrade Europe reveals developments and trend topics

Portsmouth International Port’s Cruise Team heads to Hamburg for Seatrade Europe It’s a little known fact that Germany has more cruise loving citizens than any other country in Europe, even eclipsing the UK for the number of cruise holidays sold each year. It’s fitting then that next month’s Seatrade Europe Cruise convention is being held in Hamburg, and that the cruise team from Portsmouth International Port will be there.

The last event was last held in Barcelona in 2014, and attracts the most important operators, agents, and suppliers in the cruise business. This year’s event will be held at the Hamburg Messe in early September, and the Portsmouth International Port cruise team will be on the Cruise Britain stand 408 along with other exciting UK destinations.

Captain Rupert Taylor and Vanessa Sherry from Portsmouth International Port will be meeting and greeting current clients and potential new customers. They will have an impressive backdrop featuring some of Portsmouth’s iconic sights, landmarks and attractions, with audiovisual displays and beautifully designed hand outs to show cruise companies why Portsmouth is an unrivalled destination for cruise ships.

After a busy summer season, Harbour Master Captain Rupert Taylor is keen to share his success stories with others. He knows that Seatrade Europe is an important stage for Portsmouth International Port to be seen on. He said, “The cruise convention in Hamburg will be the biggest opportunity we have in the next 12 months to meet the most important names in cruise holidays. With so many exciting developments for tourists in Portsmouth, including the new Ben Ainslie Racing America’s Cup visitor centre, we’ve got plenty to say about why our Waterfront City is a must visit destination”.

Rupert and Vanessa will also be able to explain how Portsmouth International Port has developed a reputation for expertly handling a range of different sized cruise ships, with a flexible service that is second to none.

Whether you’re having a turnaround call or a tourist call, Portsmouth is the ideal choice for all your cruise needs.

The fact that the convention is being held in Germany is particularly significant, as Rupert explains: “Apart from UK operators, we have more cruise ships based in Germany visiting Portsmouth International Port than from any other country. With 1.8 million German passengers booking cruise holidays each year, it is clearly the champion of the European Cruise business. I’m keen to meet German operators and explain how our well connected Port could be a part of their cruise programmes in the coming years.”

With the German cruise industry looking to surpass the 2 million-passenger mark in 2016, there’s real potential for Portsmouth International Port. The recent America’s Cup Challenge event gained worldwide publicity for Portsmouth, with another event planned for next summer.

With world-class maritime tourist attractions such as the Mary Rose Museum on its doorstep - the location of Henry VIII’s tragic flagship which sank in 1545; the Port is well placed to take advantage of all the city has to offer like the historic dockyard which is home to Nelson’s famous HMS Victory which triumphed at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and HMS Warrior, the first iron-hulled warship built in 1860.

For more information please contact Emma Gaisford or Julie Blackwell on 01256 631696 or email julie.blackwell@purple-agency.com

More and more people are discovering river cruises, with around 90,000 passengers embarking on river cruise ships in Europe last year. With the increasing demand, the need for more vessels rises; an opportunity for shipyards and suppliers alike. Current topics and trends in the field of river cruises will be discussed during a dedicated conference session entitled ‘Europe’s River Cruise Industry’, taking place on Wednesday 9 September 2015 from 1430-1600 hrs at the Seatrade Europe Cruise & River Cruise Convention in Hamburg.

A strong speaker line-up sees Mário Ferreira president & ceo, DouroAzul, Helge Grammerstorf managing director, IG RiverCruise &, SeaConsult HAM, Wolfgang Lüftner owner & ceo, Lüftner Cruises, Daniel Thiriet board member, IG RiverCruise, co-managing director, AMAWaterways Basel/Switzerland, & CEO, sea chefs Group and Thibaut Tincelin director, Stirling Design International discussing these topics, moderated by Frederik Erdmann German & European River cruise correspondent, Seatrade Cruise Review/Seatrade Cruise News.

Many cruise companies have a broad range of offerings. ‘River cruises win over with the variety of land excursions and theme trips on offer. There is something to suit everyone’s taste, and with innovative food concepts as well as a focus on special interests, they are increasingly targeting a younger audience too.’ says Helge Grammerstorf, managing director of IG RiverCruise.

While geography dictates that river cruise vessels are smaller in size than their ocean-going counterparts, when it comes to comfort they do not disappoint.

For example, some of the premium vessels offer their guests a swimming pool and a modern spa area, as well as panorama windows, or even private balconies.

Shipyards in Europe also benefit from the increase in passenger numbers, with 31 new ships in 2014 commissioned in the European river cruise market, and further plans for 30 new ships in 2015.[1] In addition, existing vessels are also being refurbished.

‘Expectations in terms of what is being offered on river cruise ships are getting higher. Not only are they expected to be more modern and comfortable, they must also be state-of-the-art in terms of technology.

This presents the shipyards with a challenge, because it requires them to work closely with a large network of suppliers.’ says Grammerstorf.

As is the case in ocean cruising, river cruising is increasingly turning ‘green’. Among the latest developments are particulate filter systems, water and energy-saving systems, consistent elimination of waste and recycling as well as shore-based power supply for the ships. ‘The river cruise lines are constantly investing in order to make their vessels more environmentally friendly. Shore-based power supplies in particular represents a milestone for river cruising. These allow the ships to shut down most of their engines while lying at berth, which results in a significant reduction in nitrogen emissions.’ explains Grammerstorf.

AmaWaterways Celebrates Inaugural Voyage of AmaDara On The Mekong

CAISSA Touristic and MSC Cruises announce World’s Top strategic partnership MSC Lirica to homeport in Shanghai, China, from May 2016

CAISSA Touristic Group, China’s leading outbound tourism service provider, and Geneva, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa, announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership. As part of the agreement, from May 2016, MSC Lirica will homeport in Shanghai to serve the Chinese home market.

AmaWaterways (www.AmaWaterways.co.uk), the world’s leading river cruise line announced the expansion of its Exotics division with the inaugural sailing of the new 124-passenger AmaDara. The line’s co-owners, Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Gary Murphy, met travellers in Siem Reap, Cambodia for the ship’s maiden voyage along the Mekong River.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the anticipated arrival of AmaDara on the legendary Mekong River,” said Kristin Karst, Executive Vice President and Co-Owner of AmaWaterways. “This new ship gives travellers the chance to enjoy the comfort and luxury of AmaWaterways, while having a truly authentic experience exploring one of the most incredible regions of the world.”

Now part of AmaWaterways’ Exotics division, AmaDara features an innovative design, boasting 62 extra-spacious staterooms and luxury suites, as well as a new specialty restaurant. Each well-appointed stateroom includes a private “twin balcony,” consisting of a French balcony with a second full-sized step-out balcony. The ship’s interior is reflective of elegant French colonial décor, while inspired

by Southeast Asia with authentic Mekong artifacts and accents.

Guests sailing aboard AmaDara will delight in an array of comfortable amenities including air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, a spa, a fitness centre and a refreshing sun deck with swimming pool. Complimentary unlimited wine is available with lunch and dinner; complimentary house spirits, local beer, soft drinks and bottled water are available all day.

Travellers seeking a unique, immersive experience on the fabled Mekong River can either travel upstream or downstream, as AmaDara will sail in both directions. Stops along the way will include Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Tan Chau and Ho Chi Minh City.

AmaWaterways are currently offering FREE flights and a saving of £800pp off an 11 night land & cruise stay from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, now from £2229pp, was £3029pp, including two nights pre-cruise in Siem Reap, 7 nights on board the AmaDara cruising the magnificent Mekong and including unlimited house spirits, local beer and soft drinks during the cruise, wine with lunch and dinner, daily tours and excursions and airport transfers pricing is based on dates and availability.

For more information or to book an AmaWaterways river cruise, contact your travel agent or visit www.

AmaWaterways.co.uk or call 0808 256 8422 Follow AmaWaterways on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ AmaWaterwaysUK

The strategic cooperation agreement between the two companies will be the longest-running and financially most significant between a cruise line and a tour operator in the history of cruising in China.

In a statement, CAISSA Touristic’s President Chen Xiaobing emphasised the popularity of MSC Cruises’ European and South American routes with travellers from around the world and that it had recently been named number one cruise line in Europe. Mr Chen Xiaobing added: “MSC Cruises’ distinctive European flavour resonates well with Caissa Touristic’s brand spirit, as it also originates from Europe. This partnership standouts from other traditional agreements between China-based tour agencies and cruise lines by the emphasis that will be placed on the training of the entire onboard staff to ensure that guests receive MSC Cruises’ best-in-class experience and service as well as the degree of the adaptation of the ship’s hardware and software (like facilities renovation, service design and operation, on-board commodities and more) to fit the customs and tastes of the Chinese guests that it is designed to serve.”

“We are convinced that the newly-renovated MSC Lirica will bring exciting new holiday-making choices to Chinese guests and are looking forward to welcoming numerous would-be cruisers aboard, at a time when the cruise market in the country for this particular type of product is thriving,” concluded Mr Chen Xiaobing.

Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises’ Chief Executive Officer, commented: “MSC Cruises has been present in China since 2010, successfully bringing Chinese guests to cruise on its ultra-modern fleet to its many global destinations and, especially, to Europe and the Mediterranean, where our distinctive product made us the number one cruise line across the entire Continent. We are now delighted and excited that through this partnership we are taking our presence in China to the next level. Thus, with CAISSA Touristic we will partner to bring our unique MSC Cruises’ experience directly to Chinese consumers.”

Mr Onorato continued: “The soon-to-be completely renovated MSC Lirica, as part of MSC Cruises’ ground-breaking Renaissance programme, will feature many distinctive traits – including some industry firsts in service - especially designed for the cruising enjoyment of Chinese consumers. This will make it a much soughtafter choice for cruises in the region.”

MSC Lirica is scheduled to reach her new homeport of Shanghai on 1 May 2016, after a 60-day grand voyage from Rio de Janeiro via Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa and Dubai. While maintaining its Mediterranean atmosphere and service, the 65,000GRT, 2,600-passenger MSC Lirica will enjoy an industry-high percentage of native Mandarin speaking guest-facing crew and provide guests with all services in Mandarin. It will also offer popular as well as high-end Chinese cuisine as well as more traditional and popular entertainments.

More in-depth details about how MSC Lirica’s product and services are uniquely tailored to serve the needs of Chinese consumers – including several industry firsts - will be announced at a press conference to be convened in Beijing in the coming weeks.

Industry leaders head for Hamburg for high level talks on the cruise industry in Europe As the cruise community gathers in Hamburg for the opening of Seatrade Europe 2015 Bernd Aufderheide president and ceo, Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH, Chris Hayman chairman, Seatrade UBM EMEA, Michael Ungerer president, CLIA Germany and Daniel Thiriet vice president, IG RiverCruise discussed at a media briefing this morning the key topics which will be covered during this year’s event, which takes place at Hamburg Messe und Congress from Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 September.

Mr Aufderheide was enthusiastic about the 8th edition of the event. ‘This year’s event will see over 250 exhibitors from more than 50 countries around the world showcasing innovations and exhibiting their products and services. We also have the supplier workshop where senior buyers from Meyer Werft, together with Meyer Turku Oy, and Neptun Werft will network with suppliers to the cruise lines. More than 90 suppliers from all over the world have registered for this workshop.’ Seatrade Europe also continues to be the only event of its kind in the world which includes river cruising.

Michael Ungerer gave participants an update on the latest figures for the cruise industry in Germany, acknowledging that ‘the German cruise market in the past few years has been a success story’ and is now second in the world, just behind the US, with over 1.7 million Germans going on a cruise in 2014. The success also continues, with 6.4 billion Europeans booking a cruise in 2014, which represents about 34% of all cruise bookings worldwide’ he continued.

Mr Ungerer went on to talk about why cruising is such a popular holiday choice for Europeans. ‘Our success is based on a wide number of things. A wide range of destinations and target groups all covered by our products, including those who have not considered cruising before. Of course one of the most important factors is good value for money. Cruising is a lifestyle and the ships themselves are also becoming destinations in their own right.’

He also noted the challenges faced by the industry in making cruising ‘more sustainable’. ‘We have a lot of innovative ideas coming along making each ship better than the one before. Many of the CLIA member lines are supporting these political efforts with most using scrubbers for sulphur removal, but ports too have

to do more for the environment with cruise ships spending 40% of their operating time in port.’ There were also discussions on the scope for growth of the cruise industry, ‘we will continue to grow here in Europe and worldwide but can only grow in relation to the supply of the cruise lines with more ship.’

The exhibition is complemented by a high level conference programme, where over 600 delegates have registered to hear from the leading cruise lines around the world who will share their expertise and take part in in-depth discussions on the industry. Chris Hayman talked through an overview of the remaining conference sessions for the event detailing the heavy hitters set to have the discussions throughout the 2.5 day event.

‘We are looking at an industry showing great growth potential, and each year we try to focus on a cross section of issues for ocean and river cruising, as well as the opportunity and challenges for the industry going forward’ Mr Hayman explained.

The State of the Industry opening conference session, taking place on Wednesday 9 September from 0930-1130 hrs will include a keynote address delivered by the current chairman of CLIA Europe, Pierfrancesco Vago. As an innovation this year’s moderator for the opening session will be the International Journalist & Broadcaster Todd Benjamin.

The river cruise market is very distinct from ocean cruising in terms of the products available and also the technical difficulties involved. Daniel Thiriet discussed the river cruise trends and explained that ‘compared with ocean cruising, ship traffic on rivers is still reasonably small, but things are growing. The US source market has contributed to this growth.’ Talking about the challenges with this sector he explained that they ‘do not have issues with the piracy but we have restricted infrastructure for the size of the ports.’

There were also discussions on the future price expectations for cruise holidays. ‘In the past two years the prices have risen, but that is partly linked with the fact that it is demand driven and there is not enough supply for the demand in the marked’ explained Mr Ungerer.

Cruise ship design will also be covered during the Seatrade Europe conference, and Chris Hayman was asked his thoughts on what the expectations would be for the next few years, or are the ships of 5,000 plus guests the limit and he explained that ‘there is an irreversible trend towards big ships’. The operating challenges will be covered in the Design for the Future and The Regulatory Framework for Cruise Operators in European Waters conference sessions due to take place during Seatrade Europe.

Saga Sapphire to call at 18 maiden ports on new 66-night Central American Discovery cruise Voyage includes two new ports to Saga fleet: Belize and Trujillo, Honduras Saga Sapphire will call at a record-breaking 18 new ports of call on a grand voyage to Latin America which departs from Southampton on January 11, 2017.

Two of the maiden ports will also be completely new to the Saga fleet: Trujillo, a privately-owned port in north-east Honduras, is on the country’s Banana Coast and has a beautiful white sandy beach.

Although the natural deep water harbour has a long history - it was the first place where explorer Christopher Columbus landed in the Central Americas - the port only opened to cruise ships in 2014.

Belize, a member of the Commonwealth, boasts some fine colonial architecture and passengers will arrive by tender to Fort Street in Belize City to enjoy a lively waterfront area. There will also be an option to visit Crooked Tree village, which was founded in the mid-1700s by wood cutters. The village has only been accessible since 1984, when three-mile causeway was created, and now walking trails give guests the chance to see birds and wildlife including Jabiru storks, osprey, black-collared hawks, howler monkeys, turtles and coatimundi.

Some of the many highlights include sailing through the Panama Canal on the outward and return journeys; an overnight call in Havana and boarding a restored Atlantic Railway passenger train to view wildlife in Costa Rica.

Further ports of call on Saga Sapphire’s record-breaking cruise include Castries, St Lucia; Port of Spain, Trinidad; Bridgetown, Barbados; Horta, Azores and Funchal, Madeira.

Uniworld unveil brand new brochure design in its Europe & Russia 2016 programme which also features new itineraries and enhancements The world’s most renowned boutique river cruise line, Uniworld (www.uniworld.com) has launched its new Europe & Russia 2016 brochure showcasing a brand new design aimed to reflect the attention to detail and ultimate luxury of a Uniworld river cruise. In addition to the new design, this 2016 programme also features three new itineraries and a newly enhanced ship.

The Uniworld Europe & Russia 2016 brochure boasts a revamped design utilising aspirational imagery to tell the Uniworld story and with the opening section centring on the six brand pillars. These pillars include unrivalled expertise, one-of-a-kind ships, legacy of service, culinary excellence, personalised experiences and, finally, Uniworld Cares which refers to the company’s philanthropic and environmental efforts. This new programme also features more staff testimonials to highlight that Uniworld is a company comprised of people who are compassionate and love to travel, just like their guests.

Uniworld have ventured into pastures new with three brand new itineraries each incorporating two nights in the newly featured destinations of Bucharest and Istanbul. The 12 day Highlights of Eastern Europe and Istanbul is an adventure into the enigmatic and exotic eastern corners of the continent whilst the 21 day Portraits of Eastern Europe provides guests with an in-depth exploration of Europe, combining two Danube cruises. Finally, the 26 day Ultimate European Journey takes guests from Amsterdam through central Europe and culminates in mystical Istanbul.

The 2016 season will also see the River Queen ship upgraded and renovated with French balconies to be installed along the Rhine deck, an entirely new deck plan and new windows similar to those found on Uniworld’s Super Ships. This newly enhanced ship will operate on Tulips and Windmills, European Jewels and Legendary Rhine and Moselle.

Customers can also take advantage of Uniworld’s Early Booking Offer and save up to £900 per couple on every Europe & Russia 2016 itinerary when they book by 31st January 2016.

For more details visit uniworld.com or call 0808 168 9110.

American Cruise Lines doubles capacity in Pacific Northwest American Cruise Lines announced that the Queen of the Mississippi will be renamed and join the Queen of the West in the Pacific Northwest on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

This three-year-old vessel will more than double the capacity on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The paddlewheeler will feature the largest, most well-appointed staterooms on the river with large sliding glass doors opening to private balconies. The glass-enclosed dining room comfortably accommodates all guests in one seating and seven spacious lounges throughout the ship offer areas for entertainment, relaxation and conversation. While on board the guests learn about the Pacific Northwest history and culture, while enjoying the finest in personalized service.

American Cruise Lines operates week-long sailings between Portland, OR and Clarkston, WA. More information at www.americancruiselines.com

New dates for Seatrade Cruise Asia announced Seatrade (UBM EMEA) is delighted to announce the new dates for Seatrade Cruise Asia. Hosted by Busan Port Authority, Busan Metropolitan City, Korea Tourism Organization and Korea Marine Leisure Network, Seatrade Cruise Asia will now take place 12-14 May 2016 at the Busan International Passenger Terminal in Busan, Korea. The event will feature a showcase exhibition, conference and travel agent training.

The conference will focus on the growing momentum for cruise tourism in Asia, the expansion of the cruise fleet now operating in Asian waters, and the opportunities and challenges this represents for the region. Representatives from the world’s leading cruise lines will take part in the conference sessions, along with senior representatives from ports, destinations and other cruise tourism stakeholders, giving their insights on how the region can increase its presence in this growing global industry.

It is widely predicted that demand for cruising in Asia will continue to grow, both as a source market for cruise passengers and as a key destination for cruise ship deployment. Seatrade Cruise Asia will look at the opportunities for expanding cruise sales across the region and the variation in tastes for the individual Asian source markets, and how the product can be adapted to address these tastes. It will also focus on the current pattern of cruise ship deployment in the region and the opportunities for developing new itineraries and new destinations.

As the pace of cruise development in Asia gathers momentum, the conference programme will look at operating conditions for cruise lines in the region, the availability of infrastructure and support services and what the expansion of cruising in Asia can contribute to the regional economy.

The opportunities for Asian shipyards in cruise ship construction will also be discussed.

Complementing the conference sessions, the exhibition will see destinations, tourism authorities, cruise associations, tour operators, port agents and suppliers showcasing their products and services to cruise industry professionals from around Asia. The event will also feature a travel agent training programme, and a full social programme for attending delegates.

call (compared with Aurora’s 2016 world cruise), four overnight stays in Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and San Francisco and seven evening calls. The cruise will also feature calls into some of the world’s most iconic destinations including sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco, sailing into Sydney Harbour and “City of Sails”, Auckland and transiting both the Panama and Suez canals.

180 years of heritage celebrated in P&O Cruises 2017 World Cruise Collection P&O Cruises has launched its 2017 World Cruise Collection featuring two full world circumnavigations offering a choice of east or west, a 180th anniversary celebration cruise on Aurora, exotic fly cruises and Australasian journeys, a 50-night cruise round trip Southampton to the Caribbean, USA and Amazon, Northern Lights cruises on Oriana with numerous overnight and evening calls.

P&O Cruises’ marketing director, Christopher Edgington, said: “P&O Cruises has a reputation for offering original and appealing world cruise itineraries which we spend a lot of time planning, based on extensive research and trends. Our round the world cruises are not a once-in-a-lifetime dream but a truly affordable and realistic holiday for “empty nesters” looking for long haul adventure and “this is the life” memories.”

World circumnavigations on Aurora and Arcadia In the year that P&O Cruises celebrates 180 years of heritage, Aurora’s world circumnavigation will be particularly poignant.

Echoing the trade routes of the British Empire, Aurora will sail a 104-night eastern circumnavigation from Southampton calling at 35 destinations in 21 countries and sailing nearly 30,000 nautical miles.

Departing January 9 2017, this cruise will feature 23 new ports of

Arcadia’s 114-night Polynesian and Asian Adventure is a full world western circumnavigation from Southampton calling at 37 destinations in 21 countries and sailing over 36,000 nautical miles. Departing January 2 2017, the cruise will feature 22 new ports of call (compared with Arcadia’s 2016 world cruise), five overnight stays in San Francisco, Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore and nine evening calls. As with Aurora’s world cruise, Arcadia will also feature calls into some of the world’s most iconic destinations including sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco, sailing into Sydney Harbour and “City of Sails”, Auckland and transiting both the Panama and Suez canals.

Oriana’s Caribbean and Amazon Adventure This 50-night cruise on Oriana round trip from Southampton will call at 17 destinations in 13 countries in the Caribbean, the USA and South America and will sail over 14,000 nautical miles including 1,500 nautical miles on the Amazon over six days.

Departing January 3 2017, Oriana will feature 10 new ports of call, compared with her 50-night cruise in 2016. Highlights of the cruise include calls at Bermuda, New Orleans and Manaus as well as cruising the mighty Amazon.

Northern Lights cruises In 2017, Oriana will offer two 12-night Northern Lights cruises round trip from Southampton calling at Andalsnes, Tromso, Alta (overnight) and Stavanger as well as cruising in Romsdalsfjord.

Highlights include the overnight in Alta which is known as “The Town of the Northern Lights” and a late evening in Tromso where adventurous guests can head out on a traditional husky-drawn sled.

P&O Cruises 2017 World Cruise Collection goes on sale for top tier Peninsular Club members Tuesday 8 September 2015, general sale starts from 8am on Wednesday 9 September 2015.

Board Member re-appointments show further confidence in Port Non-Executive Board Members, Frank Martin and Erik Østergaard, have both been re-appointed to the Dover Harbour Board (DHB) for a further three years. Their new term lasts until mid-2018.

With the recent announcement that George Jenkins OBE had been re-appointed as Chairman, this is a further sign of Government’s confidence in a Board that continues to lead a period of massive transformation at the Port of Dover, a nationally important piece of infrastructure delivering a resilient operation for the UK’s trade with Europe.

Having committed to DHB’s biggest ever single investment in the Dover Western Docks Revival (DWDR) project, the Board is leading an organisation that is working at the heart of the community with a shared vision for the Port and for Dover that is also delivering for the nation.

George Jenkins, Chairman, Dover Harbour Board, said: “Together, Frank and Erik continue to bring a wealth of experience to the team. Alongside Frank’s valuable knowledge of the local area, Erik’s industry expertise is equally important for a Port handling £100 billion of the UK’s trade.”

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: “I am delighted that Frank and Erik have been re-appointed as members of the Board. Their experience and knowledge has been invaluable as we move forward with the shared vision for the Port together with our customers and community. This new term of office will mean that they are both here to see the delivery of the first substantial phase of the DWDR project.”

CLIA ALASKA

CLIA EUROPE

CLIA NW & CANADA

CLIA Belgium & Luxembourg CLIA France CLIA Germany CLIA Italy CLIA Netherlands CLIA Spain CLIA UK & Ireland

CLIA ASIA

CLIA NORTH AMERICA CLIA ABREMAR-BRAZIL

CLIA AUSTRALASIA

CLIA DIAMOND ELITE EXECUTIVE PARTNER MEMBERS

CLIA Executive Committee Lynn Narraway – Chair Managing Director, UK & Ireland Seabourn & Holland America Line

CLIA DIAMOND EXECUTIVE PARTNER MEMBERS

Richard Twynam Managing Director, UK & Ireland Azamara Club Cruises Jo Rzymowska Managing Director, UK & Ireland Celebrity Cruises Philip Ordever VP, International Sales & Marketing Crystal Cruises Nathan Philpot Sales & Marketing Director Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

INSURANCE BROKERS

Giles Hawke Executive Director MSC Cruises Paul Ludlow SVP, Sales & Marketing P&O Cruises Stuart Leven Managing Director, UK & Ireland Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Ray Steward Country Director UK & Ireland Tauck Helen Caron Managing Director Thomson Cruises & Island Cruises Kathryn Beadle Managing Director Uniworld

Andy Harmer Director aharmer@cruising.org Penny Guy PR Director pguy@cruising.org Adele Fitzpatrick-Foster Events and Training Manager afoster@cruising.org Alex Holubowicz Creative and Digital Co-ordinator aholubowicz@cruising.org Augustus Lonsdale Business Development Co-ordinator alonsdale@cruising.org Megan Saunders Office & Administrative Assistant msaunders@cruising.org

CLIA UK & Ireland www.cruiseexperts.org ukinfo@cruising.org t: +44 (0)20 3582 4378