Travel Weekly is particularly excited about this week’s cruise wrap, and it’s not just because it features a story about pizza. Although, that certainly doesn’t hurt.

Oceania Cruises Introduces new plant-based cuisine 

Oceania Cruises unveiled the most extensive and creative plant-based menus at sea as their latest OceaniaNEXT innovation.

Remaining at the forefront of culinary development, the cruise line is featuring more than 200 new healthy menu selections.

Plant-based choices will now be available at breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Grand Dining Room and Terrace Café and guests will also have plant-based options available upon request during dinner service in each of the specialty restaurants.

The new menu offerings are in addition to the line’s already acclaimed vegetarian and Canyon Ranch Healthy Living selections, and were developed by Oceania Cruises’ culinary leadership team in concert with world-renowned chef, culinary instructor, and author Christophe Berg.

Seabourn unveils first public spaces on new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships

Seabourn has given travellers their first glimpse of select public spaces on its two new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships set to launch in  June 2021 and May 2022, respectively.

The work of design icon Adam D. Tihany, the Expedition Lounge, Discovery Center, Landing Zone, and Atrium are masterfully designed spaces that will act as the communal hub on Seabourn Venture and another yet-to-be-named sister ship.

The Expedition Lounge, Discovery Center, and Landing Zone are new spaces for Seabourn that will be instrumental in creating a sense of awe and adventure for expedition travellers on board amidst an environment of exceptional, intuitive service.

Each aims to capture the romanticism of early explorers and the thrill of discovery with thoughtful details and materials that are very tactile- very ‘elemental’ – capturing the sense of ruggedness that comes with expedition travel while maintaining pristine luxury and comfort. Tihany is also creating all indoor and outdoor guest areas on the two new ships.

CLIA explores the outback in new NT course

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has teamed up with Tourism Northern Territory to introduce a new education option for travel agent members, focussed on the untamed expanses of Australia’s spectacular Top End.

The new Northern Territory course is the latest addition to the CLIA Learning Academy and incorporates spectacular imagery and video to help showcase some of the destination’s best experiences for cruise visitors.

It includes details on the seven regions of the Northern Territory, what travellers can expect to see, things they can do and places they can explore. The interactive course includes a handy notes portal, which is accessible throughout and allows users to print or email notes and keep them for future reference.

Tourism Northern Territory is the latest CLIA Executive Partner to help create new and engaging educational content for CLIA travel agent members, with other recent additions including courses in partnership with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Travelvax.

To find out more, visit the CLIA Learning Academy at www.cruising.org.au.

PONANT continues its fleet expansion, taking delivery of Le Bougainville on schedule 

PONANT successfully took delivery Le Bougainville, the third vessel in its exceptional PONANT EXPLORERS series, exactly on schedule. The ship left Søvik in Norway on the morning of 8 April and she is currently sailing to Spain to start her maiden cruise on 15 April from Malaga. She will be officially inaugurated on 4 June.

International best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert christens the new Avalon Envision

Avalon Waterways has christened its 13^th Suite Ship in Europe. Acting as the ship’s godmother, Elizabeth Gilbert – acclaimed author of the award-winning, New York Times-bestselling EAT PRAY LOVE – led the christening ceremony.

After reciting her blessing, Gilbert cut a rope tethered to a bottle of Torley – Hungary’s most famous sparkling wine, causing the bottle to smash against the newly named ship’s bow.

Managing Director of Avalon Waterways Pam Hoffee, Captain Ralf Remus and the ship’s crew of 47 – as well as a hundred invited guests that included journalists, travel agents, local dignitaries and tourism boards – cheered the ship’s christening in front of a crowd of local onlookers.

Carnival Cruise Line launches ‘Pizza Anywhere’ onboard its Australian ships

Carnival Cruise Line has launched its ‘Pizza Anywhere’ feature on the Carnival Cruise Line Hub App in Australia, so guests can have their favourite pizza delivered whenever, wherever they are on the ship.

With the simple touch of a button, guests can order a fresh, hand-tossed pizza on their smartphone and have it delivered hot to their location on the ship. Five pizza varieties made from imported Italian flour are available, including Margherita, Funghi, Pepperoni, Quattro Formaggi and Hawaiian. Bellissimo!

To place an order, guests simply tap on the Pizza Delivery icon and select their location in the Carnival Cruise Line Hub App. Guests have the option to take a selfie so the waiter can easily identify them and then select their desired pizza and toppings. Each pizza costs $7 which is automatically charged to guests’ Sail & Sign shipboard accounts upon order.

The new app feature is currently offered onboard Carnival Spirit and will be available onboard Carnival Splendor when she arrives to her new home port in Sydney this December.

Live Fully in the Kimberley with APT’s New 2020 Cruising Brochure

APT has launch their brand-new 2020 Kimberley Cruising brochure, featuring Arnhem Land and the Coral Coast. With a fresh new look and feel, the brochure is jam-packed with APT’s most popular Kimberley cruise and land adventures, as well as a brand new Coral Coast cruise.

To celebrate the launch, APT is offering some incredible Superdeal savings. Book before 30 June 2019 to take advantage of Superdeals including Fly Free. This unmissable deal is available on selected itineraries that start and finish in Kununurra, across all suite categories. Other Superdeals include savings of up to $3,000 per couple and Travel with Friends to save a further $300 per couple.

Best deals to South East Asia in 2020/21 with Scenic

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours today launched its 2020 pre-release brochure for South East Asia river cruising with prices held at 2019 prices for booking made prior 30 June 2019. Book now to secure your guests their first choice on departure dates and suite categories at the best possible price.

As an added incentive for bookings made by 30 June, Scenic also launched a range of promotional offers including:

• Flights included on any Mekong journey of 13 days or longer or Myanmar journeys of 14 days or longer;
• Earlybird savings of up to $1,500 per couple when booking the 11 Day Luxury Mekong and Temple Discovery Cruise, or 11 Day Luxury Irrawaddy Cruise;
• 50% off the Single Supplement fare for the solo traveller on any suite on selected departures of 11 days or longer; and
• An additional Early Booking Discount of $400 per couple of any booking made by 30 June 2019.

The key itineraries include:

13 Day Treasures of the Mekong, Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, starting from AUD$7,695pp.

18 Day Journey along the Mekong, Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok, starting from AUD$10,595pp. Exclusive to Scenic

11 Day Luxury Irrawaddy, Mandalay to Yangon. Starting from AUD$6,495pp

18 Day Mystical Myanmar from Yangon to Yangon. Starting from AUD$11,995pp

Share and Save with Azamara: Enjoy 50 per cent off the Second Guest and USD$500 onboard spending money

Azamara Club Cruises has launched an incredible offer for Australian travellers to “Buy One, Get One Half Price,” plus enjoy USD$500 onboard spending money and free wifi across a wide range of international sailings.

Eligible bookings made on Oceanview Staterooms and above on select itineraries across the Mediterranean, Caribbean and South America departing between August 2019 and April 2020 will qualify for the offer, available to book before 31 May 2019.

Fares with Azamara Club Cruises include gratuities, beverages, concierge services, port shuttle services and most voyages feature a complimentary and bespoke AzAmazing Evening shore adventure.

Silversea’s guests enjoy unprecedented luxury as result of project Invictus

The first initiative launched by Silversea Cruises in partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Project Invictus has increased Silversea’s luxury offering to enhance guests’ cruising experiences further still.

As part of the largest investment in the company’s history, the cruise line is growing and improving its ultra-luxurious fleet of ships.

In addition to Silver Moon and Silver Dawn, which were announced prior to the launch of Project Invictus and are expected to join the fleet in 2020 and 2021, respectively, Silversea has ordered three new ships as part of Project Invictus: Silver Origin, which will be primed for cruising in the Galapagos Islands, and two Evolution-class ships. Extensive refurbishments were also made to Silver Whisper in December 2018, while an augmented refurbishment of Silver Wind – planned for the summer of 2020 – will include a strengthened ice-class hull and the addition of Zodiacs®.