TGIW – we’re starting a new saying that basically means thank god we’ve made it halfway through the week. Please enjoy this Cruise Wrap we prepared earlier for you 🙂

An Evening With Tim Rice’ Performances Roll Out Across Seabourn Fleet

Following the successful launch of its exclusive partnership with acclaimed English musical theatre lyricist of Broadway, Sir Tim Rice, Seabourn has announced the production, “An Evening with Tim Rice,” is now playing on all ships in its fleet.

The show first debuted in January 2017 on the inaugural voyage of Seabourn Encore and is now part of the evening entertainment repertoire on board Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Quest. It will also debut on Seabourn Ovation in 2018 when the ship is launched by the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line.

In association with Belinda King Creative Productions and directed by Belinda King, “An Evening with Tim Rice” is a concert-style presentation narrated via video by Rice to highlight some of his most loved work – from Jesus Christ Superstar to Aladdin and The Lion King. The show also includes a number from Chess called “One Night in Bangkok,” and a broad “Circle of Life” finale.

Minions Get into the Spirit of Cruising with a Despicable Carnival Takeover

Carnival Cruise Line has welcomed some colourful guests onboard its Australia-based superliner, putting the ship’s fun limits to the test.

To celebrate the release of Despicable Me 3 in cinemas from June 15, the movie’s mischievous minions Kevin and Stuart took over Carnival Spirit for the day. 

With the cruise line and the minions both known for their high fun stakes, it turned into the ultimate meeting of cheeky minds. 

Check out this clip to see the minions onboard Carnival Spirit:

CRUISEAGENTS FOCUSING ON AGENTS

Key wholesaler CruiseAgents, operated by the Ecruising group of companies, who for many years have been offering cruising holidays to Australians has just announced a new revamped website- the perfect “one-stop shop” for travel agents looking to increase their cruise selling skills.

Founder and owner of the group Brett Dudley said, “Considering the size of the cruise industry in Australia there are actually very few independent cruise wholesalers in the market.”

“Our staff is here to pass on the expertise and knowledge to allow travel agents become cruise experts.  We are able to achieve this with a dedicated team based in Sydney CBD, providing speedy and attentive service, with the sole purpose being to assist travel agents maximise their sales, by allowing better use of their time”.

The new website, www.cruiseagents.travel, has a clearer design for easy viewing on all PC’s, Smart phones and tablets with the real stand out improvement being the new search facility allowing agents to narrow their search further than before with newly added filters saving agents from wading through thousands of cruise holiday results.

Set Sail with Bentours

Bentours and Hurtigruten have released a huge array of specials on their cruise and exploration voyages range throughout Norway, Antarctica, the Arctic and Russia. With huge savings to be made, they encourage travellers to get in quick to book these amazing deals.

Enjoy the 2 for 1 offer on the Russia Symphony Cruise. Travel on-board the river cruiser MS Rostropovich along the rivers, lakes and canals of Russia, between Moscow and St Petersburg. This is undoubtedly one of the best ways to view the fascinating sights of these two great cities and to discover the spectacular interiors of Russia. This offer is available to book before 31 July 2017.

Hurtigruten exploration voyages on the Norwegian Coast are now available to book for travel until 31 March 2018. Described as ‘the world’s most beautiful sea voyage’. Hurtigruten is offering travellers onboard credit or a 10 per cent discount on their Norwegian coastal voyages.

Select fare travellers receive onboard credit, whilst basic fare travellers will receive the 10 per cent discount. Receive $500 on board credit on the 11 day Classic Norwegian Discovery, as well as the 12 day Classic Coastal Voyage Return. Receive $250 on board credit on the North or South bound coastal voyages. Offer is valid to book before 30 June 2017 and for travel September – December 2017. 

Hurtigruten’s brand new ship the MS Roald Amundsen is offering no single supplements on their first voyages. Be one of the first to experience Antarctica on the brand-new hybrid ship, MS Roald Amundsen and you could save over 50%! Travellers must book by 30 June 2017.

P&O Launches ‘Always On’ Flagship Fares for Travel Agents

P&O Cruises has made it even easier for the trade to enjoy a cruise holiday with the launch of a special new Flagship Fare for travel agents, offering a permanent 20 per cent discount on P&O Cruises’ “Go” fares.

The ‘always on’ Flagship Fare will enable agents to book a variety of cruises across the fleet year-round, whether they are planning a break with friends or family or looking to book a last-minute deal. 

Guests travelling in the same room as the agent will also receive the 20 per cent discount.

P&O Cruises Director of Sales Ryan Taibel said the Flagship Fares offered travel agents more choice and freedom to plan holidays with friends and family in advance rather than waiting for last-minute availability.

“The new ‘always on’ Flagship Fare will allow our partners to book their cruise when they want to travel, opening up a larger range of holiday options throughout the year,” Taibel said.

“We know our agents enjoy cruise holidays as much as we do, so we’re encouraging them to take advantage of the new rate and jump onboard a P&O cruise.”

The special industry rate can only be booked via Live Chat by logging on to the Flagship website –flagship.pocruises.com.au.

To complete the booking, agents need to click the ‘Live Chat’ button and be connected to a customer service representative who will take the preferred cruise number.

Celebrity Cruises reveals NZ shopping cruise for shopaholics

Celebrity Cruises has revealed the ultimate holiday indulgence for Aussie shopaholics – a New Zealand shopping cruise.

With a very generous luggage limit of 90kg, itineraries which feature Australasia’s top shopping hotspots and departures perfectly timed to coincide with the summer holiday sales, a one-way trans-Tasman cruise on the region’s highest rated ship, Celebrity Solstice, offers the perfect holiday for savvy Aussie shoppers.

“Gather a group of friends, fly to New Zealand and shop to your hearts content at Auckland’s upmarket designer stores and Wellington’s artsy boutiques, then take your new finds home by sea on a modern luxury cruise, without the excess baggage fees,”Adam Armstrong, Managing Director, Celebrity Cruises Australia and NZ said.

Sailings on offer include a 14-night voyage that departs Auckland on 11 November 2017. Get Christmas shopping sorted in Auckland, and sail back to Sydney, visiting ports such as Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound and Melbourne.

Book a Balcony stateroom from $3,599 per person twin share, which includes $100 savings per person as part of Celebrity’s new savings offer. Guests will also receive a free beverage package for two or US$300 onboard credit per stateroom as part of Celebrity’s evergreen “Go Big, Go Better, Go Best” offer.

Spoil yourself this Christmas on a 12-night Celebrity Solstice voyage departing Auckland on 9 December 2017. Kick off the trip with a shopping spree, then continue to the beautiful Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, Melbourne and Sydney.

Book a Balcony stateroom from $3,049 per person twin share, which includes $100 savings per person and one free perk.

Ponant’s Blue Eye, the world’s first multi-sensory underwater lounge

In a world exclusive, the four ships of the PONANT EXPLORERS series are equipped with an underwater passenger lounge, called Blue Eye, located within the hull beneath the water line. The design of this technical prowess was entrusted to architect Jacques Rougerie, who is deeply passionate about the sea.

Rougerie drew inspiration from his observation of nature in order to determine the key elements that would underpin the design of the underwater lounge. All focus is drawn towards the two portholes, shaped like the eye of a cetacean and looking out upon the subaquatic world.

The mural décor disappears to make way for the integrated digital screens projecting the images filmed live by three underwater cameras. Placed at the ship’s strategic points, these cameras enable guests to witness, for example, the spectacle of dolphins playing in the bow waves.

Experience summer all year with up to 30 per cent off Le Boat European holidays

Le Boat is offering the perfect excuse to book yourself a last minute European holiday.

Book between 1 – 8 of June and you can save up to 30 per cent when you travel for seven nights or more on your dream European journey.  This incredible deal is valid for particular destination bookings between July- October 2017.

Top options include:

• The delicacies of Aquitaine Cruise, from $1,194 per boat for 7 nights on a Corvette A canal boat
• The Northern Shannon Cruise, from $676 per boat for 7 nights on a Town Star canal boat
• La Dolce Vita Long Break, from $2,711 per boat for 14 nights on a Caprice canal boat

ROYAL CARIBBEAN SETS COURSE TO OFFER ICONIC VIEW OF SOLAR ECLIPSE

The “Great American Eclipse,” 99 years in making, is already booking up hotels across the US, and Royal Caribbean International is providing the perfect solution for thrill seekers to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event.

The world’s most adventurous cruise line will host an out-of-this-world, seven-night Caribbean sailing on Oasis of the Seas, which will cruise to the optimal spot at sea for guests to witness the total solar eclipse on 21 August 2017.

Taking place on one of the world’s largest and most adventure-packed ships, the Total Eclipse Cruise will feature a bucket-list-worthy viewing party with a live concert performed by a major headliner – to be revealed at a later date – to celebrate the celestial phenomenon that is poised to become the most photographed, most shared and most tweeted event in human history.

The seven-night Total Eclipse Cruise on board Oasis of the Seas will set sail on 20 August 2017 from Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida and visit eastern Caribbean destinations including Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Nassau, Bahamas.

Fares start from $1,999 for the first guest and $1,069 for the second guest in an interior stateroom when booked by 30 June 2017 as part of Royal Caribbean’s ‘buy one, get up to 50% off’ promotion.

MSC Cruises and Sophia Loren christen biggest European-owned ship

Nine million man-hours worked over three years have brought MSC Cruises to this big moment. Last week in St Nazaire, France; STX France builders delivered the biggest and largest ship ever built by a European ship owner to MSC Cruises, MSC Meraviglia.

With a guest capacity of 5,714, MSC Meraviglia’s flag ceremony, which pays tribute to centuries-old maritime tradition, received her official flag and blessings for good fortune. The Flag Ceremony was attended by Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and other high-level dignitaries from the French government.

The latest wonder in the MSC Cruises fleet, MSC Meraviglia was christened in a glittering ceremony by international screen legend and godmother of all of MSC Cruises’ ships, Sophia Loren.

MSC Meraviglia is the Company’s new flagship and the 13th addition to the MSC Cruises fleet as well as the first of 11 new MSC Cruises ships due to come into service over the next 10 years under an industry-unprecedented €9 billion investment plan.

Both the ship herself and the event was inspired by the wonders of the world, as Meraviglia literally means wonder. The crowning moment of the evening was the parade of the ship’s officers, when Sophia Loren cut the ribbon and named MSC Meraviglia, to a time-honoured crescendo of the smashing of champagne on the name and fireworks.

“We have an ambitious vision for the future and MSC Meraviglia marks the start of the second phase of growth for our Company,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman. “For this reason, the christening is an extremely proud moment for all of us at MSC Cruises as we see the first of our next-generation ships being named.”

“The new ships that will come into service over the coming ten years are purpose-built connected ships, featuring innovation in both product and design, as well as the very latest-cutting edge technology to create unforgettable holiday experiences at sea for guests of all ages.

“MSC Meraviglia is the first to make this vision come to life, as it sets a new standard for cruise ships as a destination in itself.”

First Blues Cruise Helps Lift NSW Support to Record Levels at Suncorp

Around 2000 New South Wales rugby league fans have cruised to Brisbane onboard P&O Cruises’ Pacific Jewel to cheer on the Blues for the first Holden State of Origin clash.

The 70,000-tonne Sydney-based ship will provide the biggest single injection of Blues fans into Queensland for an Origin game, boosting the number of NSW supporters at Suncorp Stadium by around 50 per cent.

The seven-day roundtrip cruise departed Sydney on Friday and included calls to Gladstone and Moreton Island, before it arrived in Brisbane today, where all guests received transfers to the stadium and entry to the game as part of their cruise fare.

Fans have been joined onboard by former Blues greats Steve Menzies, Steve Mortimer and Eric Grothe, and enjoyed a ship load of footy-themed activities such as Origin trivia hosted by Fox Sports presenter Steve Hart, State of Origin touch footy on Moreton Island plus photo opportunities and Q&A sessions with the former players.

Oceania Cruises launches new Marketing Portal for travel agent partners

Oceania Cruises is excited to launch its new Oceania Cruises Marketing Portal, an easy-to-navigate site designed to support its Australian travel agent partners and make it simpler for them to explore and promote Oceania Cruises via a raft of customisable brand-approved marketing materials, which can be personalised with their company logo and contact details.

The new portal offers a single sign-on for travel agents, providing access to all the tools needed to learn, promote and book Oceania Cruises, including:

·         The latest downloadable, customisable marketing collateral with editable call to action, contact details and logos to distribute to clients, which include print-ready flyers, ads, web banners, emails, posters, toolkits, videos and social media assets

·         Easy to filter materials within different categories to quickly locate the flyer, email or ad needed

·         Select and order any Oceania Cruises brochure from the online collection

·         Measure performance for email campaigns using the portal’s ‘My Projects’ section

·         Personal support from a dedicated team with guaranteed response within 24 hours

·         Connection to Oceania Cruises Business Development Manager in local areas

LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR MAGAZINE HONOURS VIKING

Viking Cruises announced today it has been honoured as “Best Cruise Line for Luxury Ocean Cruises” and “Best Luxury River Cruise Company” in Luxury Travel Advisor magazine’s 2017 “Awards of Excellence.”

Viking’s win marks the first time the annual Awards of Excellence have recognised the same company in both luxury ocean and river cruising categories. The awards were presented during Luxury Travel Advisor’s ULTRA Summit on May 22 in Washington, D.C.

Awards of Excellence winners are determined exclusively by readers of Luxury Travel Advisor magazine, who voted for nominees selected by an invitation-only advisory board made up of influential travel advisors.

Nominees represent hotels, resorts, individuals, cruise lines and professional services that excel at delivering memorable experiences, a hallmark of the luxury travel industry.