Travel Weekly’s got a shocking case of the flu this week, so we made the intern write this. All complaints forward to them.

Carnival Cruise Line 72 hour Sale 

Carnival Cruise Line have announced a 72-hour pre-summer sale for Aussie couples and families who are looking to book their next fun-filled holiday and experience some early summer sun.

The promotion offers reduced fares on twin and quad cabins starting from $72^ per person, per day, twin share (8-day total fare from $576 per person, interior twin share).

The offer is available until 11.59pm AEST on August 18 on selected October cruises around the South Pacific. Visit the website for all the details.

European Waterways offers up to 20% off on hotel barge cruises in France during 2017 grape harvest season

European Waterways is offering a wide selection of 2017 autumn season specials that are up to 20% off for cabins and whole boat charters. The specials apply to some of its most popular vessels, including hotel barges that cruise France’s famous wine-making regions during the annual grape harvest season.

With the largest selection of luxury hotel barge cruises in France and particularly the wine-growing regions, European Waterways’ autumn specials offer a unique opportunity for guests to see first-hand the country’s renowned harvest and to be in the middle of the action.

European Waterways is offering 20% off per cabin on the vessel’s October 1 departure, a saving of €1,980 (AU$2,970) off the €9,900 (AU$14,860) price for two people. Its October 1 and October 15 departures are also eligible for 20% off the price of a whole boat charter, a saving of up to €10,980 (AU$16,480).

The October 1 and 8 departures are eligible for 20% off per cabin, a saving of up to €2,020 (AU$3,030), based on double occupancy. Other departures are also available at comparable savings and must be booked by August 29 to be eligible.

Silverea’s Silver Explorer is making waves after refurbishment

Silversea Expeditions’ Silver Explorer has underwent a stylish refurbishment earlier this year, accommodating 144 guests in all-inclusive intimate luxury.

The public areas have undergone a complete transformation, with the Observation Lounge, Panorama Lounge and Connoisseur’s Corner featuring new furniture, and the restaurant’s buffet counters, ceiling and walls all refashioned with new upholstery. The theatre’s bar has been redesigned with refreshed banquette seats, while The Grill has received a brand new awning. A new boutique has replaced the library, and the spa and fitness centre have both doubled in size, replacing the original boutique.

All-suite accommodation has been restyled, with new flooring, granite appointments and rainforest showers. Suites with verandas have received new veranda furniture, whilst the vessel’s eight Expedition Suites have been converted into 16 Vista and View Suites, with most featuring a connecting door for families and friends travelling together.

Guests can enjoy onboard programs of destination lectures, photo presentations and daily recaps. Exploratory Zodiac® excursions and interactive walks ashore, led by experts in their field — marine biologists, ornithologists, geologists, botanists, historians, and anthropologists, are complimentary.

 Carnival Corporation & plc release 2016 sustainability report as part of the launch of its new dedicated sustainability website. 

The report and complementary site detail the company’s sustainability efforts and the progress made in 2016 toward its 2020 sustainability performance goals. The report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 “core” level, and a full copy can be downloaded from Carnival Corporation’s new site.

In 2015, Carnival Corporation announced its 2020 sustainability goals, establishing 10 goals for reducing its environmental footprint while enhancing the health, safety and security of its guests and crew members and promoting sustainable business practices among its brands, business partners and suppliers.

The 2016 report and website, Sustainability from Ship to Shore, confirm the company is ahead of schedule on reducing its carbon intensity and is on track to meet its additional sustainability goals during the next three years across its 10 cruise brands

Progress from the 2016 report include: Being ahead of schedule in achieving a nearly 25 percent reduction in CO₂e (equivalent carbon dioxide) relative to the 2005 baseline; Pioneering the use of LNG (liquefied natural gas), the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel, and introducing the first cruise ship ever fuelled with LNG from trucks while in port; Continuing to make progress in installing Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems, which significantly improve air emissions by reducing sulfur compounds and particulate matter from engine exhaust – by the end of 2016, 59 percent of the fleet was equipped with the systems (and a larger percentage is equipped with the systems as of today).

On the new site and report, easy to read messaging – enhanced by colourful graphics, engaging photos and videos – provides updates on progress made during 2016 in sustainability performance.

Scenic to Showcase the World at New Information Sessions

Scenic will be providing some bucket list inspiration during a new round of information sessions, running nationwide in metro and regional centres between August and October.

The free sessions will cover Scenic’s extensive array of products, from river cruising in France, Europe and South East Asia, to land journeys in Canada, Alaska and the USA, as well as in Africa.

New for this round of information sessions, Scenic will be introducing Egypt and Jordan following the release of its first dedicated brochure for the region at the start of August. The sessions will also showcase the full Scenic Eclipse release, including Antarctica and South Georgia.

Held in partnership with local agents, Scenic’s team of experts will be on hand to answer any questions and for anyone that is unable to attend, free webinars will also be available.

Sessions are free, but seats are limited so pre-booking is essential. Agents are encouraged to register their clients online and attend with them on the day. As added incentive, special bonus offers will be available for bookings made at each event. Clients with existing full release bookings will also be eligible for the offers, if applicable.

Visit Scenic website for the dates and times of the information sessions.

SeaDream will cruise through Rome, The French Riviera and Monaco in 2018

SeaDream I will sail a week from Rome to Nice in August of next year, carrying just a maximum 112 guests served by 95 crew members. The cruise will visit Bonifacio and Calvi on France’s Corsica island, Saint-Tropez and Cannes on the French Riviera, Italy’s San Remo, and Monte Carlo in the Principality of Monaco.

Book now and the price that’s brochured at beginning from US$8827pp twin-share, starts from a little over half that at US$4926pp twin-share, including SeaDream’s award-winning cuisine, wines with meals and bar drinks, power and sail water-sports, use of the golf simulator and fitness centre, port charges and taxes, and even staff and crew gratuities.

SeaDream I will sail this luxury week from Rome’s port of Civitavecchia on August 25 next year.

Hot’ Fiji Cruise Industry Rates

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji is offering any travel industry personnel and one partner sharing, 50% off fares on three, four, seven and eleven-night Fiji cruises with savings of up to $3240 per person. Prices start from as low as $880 per person twin share for a three-night Yasawa Island cruise in a “C” Ocean Stateroom, including all meals.

Friends and children (5-17 years) also receive 25% off brochure fares, so why not bring the family and friends and make this Fiji holiday one to remember?

All three, four, seven and eleven-night cruises are aboard the 130-passenger, fully accommodated and newly refurbished MV Reef Endeavour small ship cruise vessel, equipped with a hydraulic platform to make getting on and off the ship easy.

Cruises discover parts of Fiji larger ships cannot get to and passengers visit remote villages, churches and schools and take part in traditional village sevusevu ceremonies and Meke and Lovo feasts. As well as being immersed in Fijian culture there is plenty of time for relaxing on white sandy beaches, swimming or paddle boarding in crystal clear waters and snorkelling or glass bottom boating over amazing coral reefs.

Hot Industry’ rates are available until 1 September 2017 and are valid for any travel industry personnel and one partner sharing a cabin. ID required at time of booking and quote I50.

Aurora Expeditions Offers Early Bird Savings with 2019 Expedition Program

Aurora Expeditions are offering travellers the chance to save up to 20% on their newly-released 2019 expedition programs. Valid across 2018/19 Antarctica, and 2019 European Arctic Scotland and Kimberley coast departures, the Early Bird Offers are available on selected departures for a limited time, rewarding adventure seekers who book early with savings of up to $3,255 per person.

The offer is available on selected voyages and cabin categories, and ends on 30 September 2017.

For the ultimate adventure, Aurora Expeditions also offers savings of up to 20% to passengers who book two itineraries back to back, with the option to combine an Antarctic voyage with a Patagonia trek, or experience the best of the European Arctic by combining two or more itineraries. Passengers who book selected 2018/19 departures back to back will have the chance to save up to 20% on both voyages; combine a Patagonia trek with an Antarctic voyage, or enjoy the best of northern Scotland and Norway; or

In order to find the perfect itinerary, expeditioners can now refer to Aurora Expeditions’ brand new Expedition Guide, featuring Aurora’s exciting range of 2018/19 small-group adventures.

Norwegian Cruise Line unveil new features for Norwegian Bliss

Norwegian Cruise Line have revealed features and amenities for Norwegian Bliss, the line’s sixteenth ship. The ship will sail to Alaska and the Caribbean with select voyages to the Mexican Riviera beginning in June 2018.

Norwegian Bliss includes the largest competitive race track at sea and an open-air laser tag course. The ship also includes a a myriad of mouthwatering dining options and a vibrant onboard atmosphere with a multitude of bars and lounges, award-winning youth programs and more.

Other features include an expansive pool and sundeck with six infinity hot tups, an Aqua Park with two multi-storey waterslides,  kids program at Splash Academy, teen area at Entourage, and a Guppies playroom.

The new Mexican restaurant Los Lobos will offer an upscale, modern take on traditional favourites while the A-List Bar will serve handcrafted cocktails, wines and premium spirits. Also featured is The District Brew House, Le Bistro, La Cucina, Ocean Blue, Cocos – dessert venue, and more.

Celebrity Cruises Appoints First Ever Female Captain in the Galapagos

For the first time in cruise industry history a female seafarer will navigate the rich archipelago of the Galapagos as captain. A native of Ecuador, Nathaly Albán will command the ultra-exclusive Celebrity Xploration; as captain of the recently revitalized catamaran.

With a total of 12 years’ experience sailing throughout the Galapagos, Captain Albán has worked on several ships in the region, first joining the Celebrity family in 2006 as third officer onboard the 100-guest Celebrity Xpedition.

Albán was only one of six women in her graduating class at La Escuela de la Marina Mercante Nacional in Ecuador. Prior to graduating, she held a variety of roles in the maritime industry, most notably serving in the FLOPEC Tanker Fleet of the Ecuadorian Navy. Following her graduation, Albán worked on several ships in the region, including Celebrity Xpedition.

Albán will begin her new role on Celebrity Xploration in August of 2017.

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Eden’s Theatres Take Centre Stage

This month, P&O Cruises’ Pacific Eden will emerge from a multi-million dollar dry dock with two newly refurbished theatres.

The 55,820-tonne vessel has completed a 12-day transformation in Singapore ahead of the start of her highly-anticipated Cairns cruise season. Pacific Eden’s two-storey Marquee Show Theatre is being given a stylish new look and feel with a dramatic black, white and emerald-green colour scheme, custom wallpaper and unique artworks.

Alternative venue space, The Dome, will be updated to take on a contemporary nautical theme with dark navy blue and white hues, drapes and soft lighting.

Select suites and balcony cabins will receive new carpets and outdoor furniture whilst the Torquay Theatre, the spa and gym will also be revitalised. In total, 11,000 square metres of new carpet will be fitted on the 1500-guest ship.

Pacific Eden’s cruises include a 4-night Whitsundays cruise departing Cairns on 12 September, 2017. Fares start from $249 per person quad share.

Azamara announce new Land and Sea Program in Europe

Azamara Club Cruises announced a new inclusive pre-and-post Land and Sea program in Europe. In partnership with the renowned Venice-Simplon Orient-Express train, this program takes guests deeper into European locales and allows travellers to stay longer and experience even more on land with a unique vantage point.

The iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express travels between London and Venice offering travellers packages designed to extend an Azamara vacation with even more cultural discovery in additional ports. Travellers can relive the golden-era age of travel through the original 1920s vintage carriages, gourmet cuisine and spectacular scenery.

Azamara and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will provide guests the distinct opportunity to combine train, hotel and cruise travel in a personalized way.Exploring by train compliments the cruise experience offering a truly unique vantage point to take in Europe’s most famous and romanticized scenery which can be viewed along the journey between London and Venice.

Pre-and post-voyages train packages must be booked in tandem with featured sailings.

Coral Expeditions has launched Sepik River Scouting Expeditions in Papua New Guinea. Combining the best of ocean and river expedition cruising, this immersive itinerary explores a wild and unspoilt land, and ventures where few have ventured before.

Coral Expeditions first explored the Sepik River nearly a decade ago taking guests on sailings through unchartered territory, but in response to an increasing appetite to explore new frontiers, Coral Expeditions has developed a short series of four landmark expeditions departing in February 2018.

These seven-night expeditions will delve deeper in to the heart of Papua New Guinea as they follow the course of the river further into the interior; passing through some of the oldest and densest rainforests in the world, encountering local tribes with rich cultures and traditions passed down over thousands of years, and crossing paths with wildlife such as the famed Bird of Paradise.

Whilst these itineraries are very much expedition focused guests will have plenty of down time to take in the rich river life from the comfort of their cabin or rooftop bar. Guests will travel on Coral Expeditions 1, a boutique twin hulled catamaran designed for maximum comfort and stability, and with a shallow draft that promotes manoeuvrability, guests will be able to explore every inch of the river.

50% off for second guest on Norwegian Jewel’s first ANZ season

Norwegian Cruise Line will begin its inaugural Australian season this November. To celebrate the Norwegian Jewel’s first season in local waters, guests booking a balcony stateroom or above on selected Australia and New Zealand itineraries will enjoy 50% off the second guest.

With accommodation options ranging from balcony staterooms with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to your very own private balcony, to the exclusive ship-within-a-ship complex The Haven by Norwegian®, the ship’s most exclusive accommodation option complete with 24-hour butler service and a private sundeck, as well as a vast range of high-quality restaurants – more than any other ship of its size in this region – Norwegian Jewel is set to become a new benchmark for cruising in Australia.

During her November 2017 to March 2018 season, Norwegian Jewel will undertake 15 incredible sailings around the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, visiting iconic ports from Tasmania to the Bay of Islands, and Kangaroo Island to Darwin, before making her way to Singapore.

Pacific Eden emerges from drydock with fresh new look/h4>

This morning, the dry dock in Singapore was being reflooded and Pacific Eden was set to emerge with a whole new look. Sture Myrmell and Paul Rutherford sent this fantastic photo this morning. Eden underwent a 12-day transformation in Singapore ahead of the start of her highly-anticipated Cairns cruise season.

The two-storey Marquee Show Lounge has been given a stylish new look and feel with a dramatic black, white and emerald-green colour scheme, custom wallpaper and unique artworks — more fabulous design work by Petra Ryberg. The late night hot spot, The Dome, has been updated to take on a contemporary nautical theme with dark navy blue and white hues, drapes and soft lighting.

Select mini-suites and balcony cabins received new carpets and outdoor furniture whilst the cinema, spa, gym and HQ and HQ Plus have been revitalised. In total, 11,000 square metres of new carpet was laid.
The current dry dock followed Eden’s extensive three-week refurbishment undertaken alongside sister-ship Pacific Aria in late 2015.

Sture Myrmell said the latest refurbishment was part of P&O’s commitment to continually evolve and enhance the design
Pacific Eden was scheduled to emerge from dry dock ahead of a 9-night sailing from Cairns to the Conflict Islands on August 24.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Launch 2019/20 Itineraries

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled its new 2019/20 voyages season, comprising 118 new sailings, departing from March 2019 through June 2020 aboard the Seven Seas Explorer®, Seven Seas Mariner®, Seven Seas Voyager®, and Seven Seas Navigator®.

Travellers can choose among new, enriching and immersive itineraries that range from seven to 131 nights in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, Alaska, Asia, Australia, South Pacific, Canada & New England and the Caribbean. A leader in luxury cruising, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ fares include all-suite accommodation and exquisite dining, free unlimited shore excursions, free unlimited Wifi, unlimited beverages – including fine wines and premium spirits, specialty dining and pre-paid gratuities.

Guests in Concierge-level suites and higher also enjoy a free one-night, pre-cruise hotel stay before embarkation, and transfers between hotel and ship. The new 2019/20 voyages collection will open for general booking on August 17, 2017.

On select Seven Seas Voyager® and Seven Seas Navigator® sailings in Asia and the South Pacific, guests in all suite categories enjoy a free three-night, pre- or post-cruise land programme to delve deeper into the cultures and experiences of destinations such as Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Bali, Sydney, New Zealand, and Dubai and the Emirates.