To be honest we still don’t know what day it is here at TW. You could say we’re just cruising through the week. Ha ha, get it?

Carnival Cruise Line’s Shiny Ship Sale

In celebration of Carnival Cruise Line’s recent double dry dock, the brand has launched a ‘Shiny Ship Sale’ on twin cabins, giving fun-seekers the incentive to book their next holiday escape onboard Carnival’s updated ships – Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend.

The promotion offers up to $300 onboard credit per cabin, free cabin upgrades within room category and a $99 deposit per person on selected cruises booked by 29 June 2018 and sailing between 5 July 2018 and 30 December 2019.

Holidaymakers will get to experience all the fun that Carnival has to offer, with 45+ daily activities, from the thrilling Green Thunder waterslide, themed nights, live Broadway-style entertainment and the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss with Seuss at Sea.

Ecruising offers ultimate grill experience with Cunard & Huka Lodge

Ecruising is offering travellers a luxurious way to explore the best of Australia and New Zealand. Combining two world-class experiences into one incredible package, Ecruising’s exclusive itinerary will see guests enjoy a two night stay at the award-winning Huka Lodge, followed by a nine night cruise from Auckland to Sydney onboard Cunard’s elegant Queen Elizabeth.

Departing Sydney on 24 February 2019, the 13 night cruise package is priced from just $7,539* per person twin share for a Princess Grill suite – a saving of more than 50 per cent – plus guests who book by June 30, 2018 will receive up to USD$900* onboard spending money per suite.

The package also includes a one way economy class flight from Sydney to Taupo, as well two nights’ pre-cruise accommodation at The Hilton Hotel Auckland.

While at Huka Lodge, guests will enjoy a two-night stay in a Junior Lodge Suite with access to lodge’s many facilities, pre-dinner drinks and canapés, daily breakfast and a gourmet five-course dinner, transfers and a tour of the stunning Waitomo Caves en route to Auckland.

Sun Island Tours’ Croatian Cruising Brochure out now!

One of Australia’s top selling Croatian cruise and tour operators, Sun Island Tours has announced the early release of their 2019 Croatian Cruising brochure, which agents will receive via TIFs. Recording about 40 per cent year-on-year growth on Croatian cruises, the company has for this initial release, put together a wide range of itineraries to meet the high and growing demands of Aussie travellers.

With 37 cruises and 11 cruise and stay packages featured in the brochure, agents can share with their clients that the options include both the traditionally popular itineraries as well as special interest tours.

A major highlight for 2019 is Sun Island’s newly released age-specific 3049 cruise targeted at 30-49 year olds looking to holiday with like-minded peers.

To meet the increasing demands, agents should also note that there are now 51 Wednesday departures, including four brand new seven-night itineraries. There are no changes to the mini two, three, four, five-night cruises, which will continue to run as per usual.

PONANT reinforces its support for the Sea Plastics non-profit organisation and reaffirms its commitment to responsible tourism

On World Oceans Day, 8 June, PONANT reiterated its support for the Sea Plastics non-profit organisation and continues its day-to-day commitment to responsible tourism. The Company will donate one per cent of turnover from the day of 8th June to Sea Plastics, thereby confirming its commitment to the preservation of the oceans

The aim of this non-profit organisation, created in 2016 by students from AgroParisTech, is to contribute to the creation of a circular economy for plastic and to fight to protect the world’s oceans. Each year, an expedition is carried out to study the impact of plastics on the marine environment and to raise public awareness of this cause.

PONANT’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact are not limited to the processes implemented aboard ship; they start with the very design of the vessels. Clean Ship (Bureau Veritas) certified, the PONANT sisterships are among the most recent ships in the global fleet. To reduce its environmental impact, PONANT chose to build the first hybrid electric polar exploration ship propelled by Liquefied Natural Gas. This vessel, due to launch in 2021, will embody the culmination of the efforts made by the cruise line.

Its main innovation lies in the use of Liquefied Natural Gas, a fuel that significantly lowers CO2 emissions and enables SO2 and NOX emissions, and near-zero particulate matter. Quite simply, atmospheric pollutants will be eliminated when the Ponant Icebreaker sails in its hybrid electric mode in the polar regions, from 2021.

Royal Caribbean to eliminate plastic straws by end of 2018

All 50 ships across the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. fleet will ring in 2019 free of plastic straws. Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, TUI Cruises, and Pullmantur Cruceros are eliminating plastic straws en route to comprehensive plastics elimination programs across their brands.

For over a year now, RCL ships have begun implementing a “straws upon request” policy. That program will be taken a step further by the start of 2019, when guests requesting a straw will receive a paper straw instead of a plastic one. Guests also will begin seeing Forrest Stewardship Council-certified wood coffee stirrers and bamboo garnish picks as part of RCL’s plastic reduction strategy.

After straws, stirrers and picks, the company’s next efforts will focus on other single-use plastics such as condiment packets, cups, and bags. A full plastics audit is underway, with the overall plan to be completed in phases by 2020.

Since 1992, RCL’s Save the Waves program has brought best sustainability practices to the company’s ships. The program introduced state-of-the-art recycling centres onboard ships, which are equipped with shredders, balers, and compactors, as well as crushers for glass, light bulbs, tin, and aluminum. Their goal is “zero landfill”, i.e. all waste is reused, recycled or incinerated.

Silversea offers the far east for far less with special all-inclusive package fares

Ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea, is offering exceptional savings on a number of voyages to Asia in 2018 and 2019 with an All-Inclusive Package promotion now available on new bookings made before 31 July 2018.

The savings program includes free economy roundtrip air or business-class air upgrade for AUD$999 each way for flights from select Australian gateways; free one-night pre-cruise hotel stay; free transfers between airport, hotel and ship; and at least one free shore excursion in every port. Plus, an Early Booking Bonus saving of 10 per cent is available on select departure dates.

Silversea’s shore experiences are carefully crafted to reveal the cultural, historical and natural treasures of Asia, from Vietnam’s surreal Ha Long Bay and the tropical paradise of Koh Samui to the golden temples of Myanmar. Nearly 20 new options have been added, totalling approximately 180 free shore excursions, complemented by additional shore options available for purchase.