Big Fat Cruise Wrap
There’s a ton happening in the cruising world this week – from new ships to new itineraries. Meanwhile, we’ve started using a blue pen instead of a black one to spice things up a bit.
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic announces new epic Antarctica itinerary
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has announced an additional voyage for the newest addition to its fleet, National Geographic Endurance. Slated for delivery in 2020, the 126-guest vessel is the first new polar build in the line’s history.
Following her inaugural season voyaging the Arctic in 2020, National Geographic Endurance will depart on a new and unique itinerary that explores the seventh continent with two departures only. The voyage will explore where few humans have been before and will discover four stunning wilderness regions, from the Peninsula to the Ross Sea and New Zealand’s Sub-Antarctic Islands. Lindblad Expedition’s Epic Antarctica itinerary is a 34-day expedition starting from AUD$61,000, departing on 27 December 2020 and 26 January 2021, with the second departure date operating in reverse.
In the company of a renowned expedition team, guests will witness the big ice of remote West Antarctica; prolific wildlife and impressive ice shelf of the Ross Sea region; and the sub-Antarctic islands of New Zealand and Australia, World Heritage sites for the thousands of seals and millions of penguins here, including huge colonies of king penguins and the endemic royal penguin. This is wilderness and wildlife at its finest, with Lindblad given special permission to explore strictly regulated islands, which are protected at the highest level of conservation status by the New Zealand government.
The new National Geographic Endurance will be in full expedition mode exploring West Antarctica, granting thrilling opportunities to crunch through thick ice and explore places few have seen.
Scenic’s China & Japan 2019/2020 brochure out now
Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours has launched its Oriental Wonders of China and Japan 2019/2020 brochure, with a new flagship tour through China – 27 Day Silk Road and Tibet Discovery travelling from Beijing to Chengdu.
In an offering unique to Scenic, this new itinerary takes in a section of the ancient Silk Road and includes two nights in Dunhuang or the City of Sands where guests will have the opportunity to experience incredible natural wonders that are surely once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Such as the Yadan Landform, a massive geological park that is comprised of strange wind eroded landforms, which appear like a medieval city. Or a camel ride through the Singing Sand Dunes, a natural phenomenon where sand grains shuffle down the slopes of sand dunes and produce a deep, groaning hum that reverberates for miles.
Onto the Crescent Moon Spring, a natural wonder of the Gobi Desert. Just as its name implies, the lake appears like a crescent moon and with its crystal clear water, resembles a turquoise or pearl inlaid in the vast desert sand dunes surrounding it. Or a day visit to the Mogao Museum, Caves and Grottoes. Once home to many monks and nuns, the caves are a system of sanctuaries and temples filled with ancient Buddhist statues and paintings dating back thousands of years.
There are many jewels in the 2019/2020 China program, from Beijing to the Gobi Desert and the mighty Yangtze River to the Tibetan Plateau. However, you can also look forward to so much more. Discover exciting Shanghai, delight in unique Xi’an. Indulge in China’s incredible cuisine and in the visual splendour of its greatest waterway. When all is done, you may find yourself changed by all you’ve seen and experienced. And that, of course, will be the finest jewel of all.
Construction of the polar exploration vessel, Le Commandant Charcot, has officially started
PONANT, the only French-owned cruise line and the world leader in luxury expeditions, is building an exceptional polar exploration vessel. Delivery of the new flagship, the most ambitious ever designed both in terms of travel experience and respect for the environment, is scheduled for 2021.
The vessel will bear the name of a great French explorer: Le Commandant Charcot. An explorer by vocation with a true passion for sailing, Jean-Baptiste Charcot is one of the emblematic figures of French polar expeditions. By naming its forthcoming polar exploration vessel after him, PONANT is paying tribute to this “pioneer of the poles”, a man respected by all. The choice of name is even more meaningful given that this new ship will be fitted with the latest technology for minimising environmental impact, as well as a scientific laboratory to be used by operational and research missions on oceanographic research.
Thus, at Tulcea in Romania, home of the Vard shipyard, the Norwegian subsidiary of Fincantieri, PONANT is pioneering a new era in polar travel. Designed to be a new type of cruise ship, the vessel will incorporate all the latest innovations in environmental protection, making PONANT a world leader in responsible tourism.
Indeed, Le Commandant Charcot will be the first exploration vessel to surpass the ecological standards set out in international regulations. An electric hybrid vessel, it will be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Designed for intense polar explorations, and with PC2 Polar Class certification, Le Commandant Charcot will push back the boundaries of imagination, by sailing to the Geographic North Pole.
U by Uniworld launches its slick black 2019 brochure
U by Uniworld, the first ever river cruise line dedicated to a new generation of travellers, has launched its 2019 brochure for the young and young at heart – and it’s set to hit agents shelves this week!
Keeping with the brand essence, the cover is black, sleek and chic, in line with the uber cool luxe black ships. And by incorporating some exciting innovation, agents and clients can now interact with the brochure by ‘zapping’ the pages with their smartphone to bring them to life.
By using the augmented reality Zappar app, users can view U videos, interactive itineraries and photos – this technology is also the perfect tool for agents to help sell the U by Uniworld experience to their clients.
Be prepared to be greeted by a fun and friendly crew combined with the high-standard of luxe service and amenities that the Uniworld brand is renowned for. Cruises on The B start from only $2,399 per person, including accommodations, daily delicious farm-to-ship meals, select offshore excursions, two dedicated U hosts, onboard activities such as paint and wine and mixology classes, karaoke, silent discos, rooftop fitness and more.
Free beverage & Wi-Fi package now available on Pride of America
Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in cruise travel, has announced exciting new enhancements to its long-standing Free at Sea program, providing guests with even more freedom, flexibility and value to design their ideal cruise holiday.
Norwegian’s enhanced Free at Sea program sees free beverage and Wi-Fi packages now available on Hawai’i sailings for the first time from 5 January 2019 onwards – providing guests access to an exciting, all-inclusive island getaway experience, where they can sip a glass of their favourite tipple while discovering destinations such as the Nā Pali Coast and picturesque islands of Maui and Kua’i.
Norwegian’s unique Free at Sea program provides guests with a fantastic selection of up-to five free offers including a beverage package, shore excursion credit, specialty dining package, Wi-Fi package and the Friends & Family Sail at a reduced rate initiative – with the program offering now consistent across Norwegian’s 16-strong fleet.
Enjoy a ‘Cruisey’ Christmas Day
Spend Christmas Day relaxing on Sydney’s magnificent Harbour on a Captain Cook Cruises Christmas Day lunch cruise. With no meals to prepare and no washing up to be done, the whole family can enjoy a stress-free Christmas.
Held on-board the prestigious MV Sydney 2000, with three separate dining decks and an open top deck offering 360-degree views of Sydney Harbour, choose from three Christmas Day lunch cruises. The Sky Deck Christmas lunch is the ultimate Christmas Day experience. Soak up the million-dollar views from the uppermost dining deck while enjoying a five-course premium menu and an open bar of superior spirits, premium wines, beers and soft drinks.
The Club Deck lunch offers a fabulous festive Christmas buffet feast including Virginia baked leg ham, roast turkey, Marinated Beef Sirloin, Sydney rock oysters, king prawns, N.Z Mussels, Barramundi, smoked salmon, a wide selection of salads and vegetables, assorted petit cakes, plum pudding and mince pies. The Club Deck lunch also includes a superior selection of wines, beers and soft drinks.
The MV Sydney 2000 departs 12 noon on Christmas Day, Tuesday 25th December 2018 from No.1 King Street Wharf, returning at 3.00pm.
MSC Cruises names first seaside Evo ship MSC Seashore
MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company and leading cruise brand in Europe, South America, South Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and Fincantieri, one of the largest shipbuilding groups in the world, today cut the first steel of MSC Seashore, the first of two MSC Cruises Seaside EVO ships currently on order at Fincantieri. At a ceremony held at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago and Fincantieri’s Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Bono launched the cutting of the first steel of this new ship.
Coming into service in Spring 2021, the 169,400 GT MSC Seashore will be the first in its kind, further enriching MSC Cruises’ Seaside Class of ships with new cutting-edge features including: an additional lounge at the aft; a further enhanced MSC Yacht Club covering three forward decks; specialty restaurants at the level of the promenade at deck eight for dining al fresco whilst being close to the sea; a larger number of whirlpools across the ship; and 200 additional cabins as well as even more generous public spaces.
Moreover, the Seaside EVO ships will be equipped with the latest advanced environmental technology, including a selective catalytic reduction system; exhaust gas cleaning technology; state-of-the-art waste management and recycling systems; advanced water treatment systems; and an advanced energy and heat recovery system, as well as other technology and measures to further increase energy efficiency.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
captain cook cruises Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic msc cruises norwegian cruise line ponant scenic U by UniworldLatest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.