Cruise wrap: Crystal announces new getaways, Silversea’s 2021 world cruise on sale + more!
This cruise wrap is as long as this week has felt. On the bright side, if you need to look like you’re super-busy for a while, you can kill almost a whole afternoon scrolling through this one.
Record Awards Haul for TravelManagers at Cruiseco Conference
When Cruiseco’s annual national conference took place in Auckland the weekend before last, bringing together more than 250-member travel agencies from across Australia and New Zealand, one of the highlights of the three-day event was the Awards Night, which was held within the grand setting of the city’s War Memorial Museum.
TravelManagers was represented at the awards by personal travel manager (PTM), Carolynne Cannon, who accepted three major awards on the company’s behalf.
News to Note: Crystal Cruises Announces New 2019-20 ‘Crystal Getaways’
Crystal Cruises has unveiled a collection of 16 new “Crystal Getaways” for 2019 and 2020.
Sailing aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity and spanning Central America, North America’s Pacific and Gulf coasts, Southeast Asia, China and Japan, the Mediterranean and Caribbean, the five- to eight-night voyages pack tremendous global exploration and all-inclusive luxury into abbreviated versions of longer itineraries.
Royal Caribbean’s 2020/21 season now on sale now
Royal Caribbean’s Australian 2020/21 summer cruise season is now open for sale, featuring four incredible megaliners for Aussies to choose from and two home ports – including Sydney and from November 2020, Brisbane’s brand new International Cruise Terminal.
Four locally-based Royal Caribbean cruise ships will offer more capacity and more itineraries than ever before, with more than 80 sailings for Australian travellers to choose from, ranging from 2 to 19 nights to destinations in the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia.
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth Departs Sydney Harbour
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship departed from the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay April 01, 2019 in Sydney, Australia.
Following a two-month visit to Australian waters, the cruise ship will return for a record 101 days from December 2019 to March 2020.
Records tumble as agent famils and ship visits soar
As the current record cruise season reaches its height, records are also tumbling when it comes to the number of travel agent ‘famils’ and ship inspections across Carnival Australia-brand ships.
This week, it was Queen Elizabeth’s turn to host a group of 40 travel agents gaining firsthand experience of Cunard’s impeccable service including a brief pause for this photo call in the Grand Lobby.
These agents are among a record 5,600 trade partners who will do ‘famils’ and ship inspections this year across four Carnival Australia brands – P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, Cunard and P&O Cruises World Cruising.
This is a staggering 40 per cent more than last year. Over the past five years, 22,000 travel agents have done ‘famils’ or ship inspections helping them to know the product to help their clients choose a cruise that is perfect for them.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Extends Locations for Regional Roadshow Series
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has announced extended locations and dates for its regional roadshow series.
Due to the overwhelming success of events held in Dubbo on 12 March and Millthorpe on 13 March, NCLH is bringing the roadshow to its valued travel partners in additional regional locations, with the next event to be held in Newcastle on 3 April, 2019.
Hosted by Aaron Christian, Business Development Manager NSW/ACT at Norwegian Cruise Line and Martine Nunes, Business Development Manager NSW/ACT at Oceania Cruises, with Martine also presenting for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the tri-brand roadshow gives invited regional travel partners the opportunity to enjoy drinks, canapes and a fun-filled evening with NCLH’s NSW sales team.
The next event is being held in Newcastle at the Novotel Newcastle Beach on 3 April 2019. The regional roadshow will continue over the coming months, with dates soon to be announced for events in Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Armidale and Port Macquarie. Travel partners in these regions are encouraged to keep an eye out for their invitation to these exciting events.
The early bird catches the penguin! 30 per cent off 2020/2021 Antarctic expeditions with Chimu on sale now.
Australia’s Polar specialists, Chimu Adventures, today launched their early bird sale for Antarctic expedition cruises during the 2020/2021 season. They will be offering up to 30 per cent off selected voyages and clients can secure a berth for AU$7090; the most competitive Antarctic cruise price in the industry.
The sale will end on the 30th April 2019 with the cheapest prices expected to sell out quickly.
Chimu can confirm that they have seen a significant rise in clients booking Antarctic expeditions early; the percentage of reservations made 18 or more months in advance has doubled (38 per cent for the 2019/2020 season compared to 19 per cent for the 2018/2019 season). Chimu specialise in small ship expeditions (under 200 passengers) therefore berths are highly sought after.
P&O Cruises Brings the LOLs to the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2020
Are you having a laugh? Because we are! P&O Cruises will have guests in stitches with laughter when flagship Pacific Explorer departs on a first of its kind voyage to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Departing Sydney on April 6, 2020, the five-night itinerary joins P&O’s Main Events line-up and takes all the hassle out of going to the largest comedy event in the calendar by including everything from tickets to transfers. The fare also packs in an exclusive comedy show at Melbourne Town Hall reserved only for P&O guests.
The new cruise to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival follows the success of ‘The Big Laugh’ and forms part of P&O’s biggest ever season of comedy, with 38 dedicated comedy cruises in 2019.
P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said P&O will have offered almost 200 comedy cruises by the end of this year, making the home-grown cruise line the biggest provider of comedy cruising Down Under by far.
Aurora Expeditions extends early bird offer for 2020/21 program
Due to an overwhelming response, Aurora Expeditions has extended its early bird offer for voyages onboard its world-class expedition ship, the Greg Mortimer.
The exclusive deal offers a saving of up to 25 per cent on select voyages and cabin categories booked and deposited by the extended date of 30 April 2019, or until sold out.
With voyages in hot demand, to avoid disappointment, Aurora Expeditions is encouraging the most discerning and intrepid of travellers to get booking and secure this great saving.
Sun Island Tours’ 2020 Croatian Cruise Itineraries Out!
Due to popular demand, Australia’s market leader in Croatia cruising, Sun Island Tours has released their 2020 itineraries.
With 38 or about half of their 2020 cruises available for booking effective immediately, agents can start reserving spots for their clients on not only the regular 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 night cruises departing from Split, Omis, Opatija, Zadar and Dubrovnik, but all of the special interest itineraries as well. These include the Wine Cruise, Gay Cruise, Young Professionals (18-39), Young & Fun 18-29, Cycling and Cruise, Hiking and Cruise and the Gourmet Cruise.
Sun Island Tours reports that the demand for Croatia cruise holidays is strengthening each year with spots filling out quickly and group chartering becoming a highly popular option. As such, agents are advised to secure their client bookings in advance to avoid disappointment.
General sale opens on Silversea’s World Cruise 2021, the Finest World Tour
General sale have opened for Silversea’s World Cruise 2021—referred to as the Finest World Tour. One of two Silversea World Cruises to set sail in 2021, the 150-day Finest World Tour will unlock rare and immersive experiences for the cruise line’s guests in 34 countries across six continents.
Silver Whisper will depart Fort Lauderdale on 7 January 2021, and will arrive in New York on 6 June 2021, having circumnavigated the Earth.
The World Cruise 2021’s 54-port itinerary has been designed for connoisseurs of travel who wish to get closer to the authentic beauty of the world at a relaxed pace and in ultimate comfort. A total of 28 overnight calls in 23 cities will enable guests to form meaningful connections with amazing destinations and their people, while a range of enrichments and events—both on land and aboard Silver Whisper—will enable guests to travel deeper.
Celebrity Solstice makes maiden call to Tonga and Samoa
Celebrity Cruises’ modern-luxury ship Celebrity Solstice expanded its South Pacific repertoire this week with maiden calls to the incredible island archipelagos of Samoa and Tonga.
The Australian-based 2850-passenger ship made its debut to Samoan capital Apia at 8am on Saturday 23 March, allowing guests eight sun-filled hours to explore the vibrant harbourside capital and its surrounding regions.
On arrival, guests were welcomed with warm smiles from the famously hospitable locals. A range of immersive shore excursions that showcased the unspoiled beauty of Samoa were on offer, including guided visits to the local food and handicraft markets, adventures to the lush Falefa Falls and Falefa Village as well as a road trip along the northeastern coast of the island.
Fly away to Europe with Uniworld in 2020
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the world’s most luxurious and all-inclusive river cruise line, inspired by Frank Sinatra’s 1958 classic “Come Fly With Me”, has launched its Let’s Fly Away free air offer with 2020 Cruises which includes complimentary economy airfares with every 2020 European voyage.
Guests are also invited to live their best life, by upgrading to business class fares from just $3,999 per person. These offers are available from now until 30 June 2019.
Featured image credit: James D. Morgan
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