We love nothing more than a big fat cruise wrap on a Wednesday, and today’s is brimming with cruise news, so grab a coffee and catch up on your industry.

CLIA Catch up

In case you missed the biggest night of the year for the cruising industry, the CLIA Cruise Industry Awards were held on Saturday February 11, naming a stack of cool winners in a very glamorous event.

Click here to check out all the fab photos and list of winners!

P&O launch 2017 incentives

P&O Cruises is giving travel agents even more reasons to sell its cruises, with the launch of its 2017 Flagship Achievers incentive program.

Under the program, qualifying agents earn Flagship Points based on net agent revenue for every P&O cruise they sell over a twelve-month period, with $1 of net agent revenue equalling one Flagship Point. Agents who book more than $50,000 in net revenue sales qualify for a bonus payment of up to $500.

In addition, 20 agents who earn the most points during the year will qualify for a Top Achievers Trip on Pacific Explorer.

Valued at $6000 each, the trip includes a cruise for two on Pacific Explorer’s three-night Australia Day cruise, a $1500 Visa Gift Card for flights and transfers, dinner at Luke Mangan’s Salt grill and onboard spending money of $300 per room, as well as dinner for two at ARIA restaurant in Sydney and overnight accommodation and breakfast at the InterContinentalHotel Sydney.

The 2017 Flagship Achievers program includes bookings made on P&O cruises between December 1, 2016 and November 30, 2017.

Azamara makes her debut

Azamara Journey made her Australian debut last week, arriving in Darwin, her very first Australian port of call.

Azamara Club Cruises’ second luxury ship is fresh from an extensive multi-million dollar makeover and delivers Azamara’s unique destination immersive style of cruising, with late night and overnight stays in ports and an expanded land offering, so guests can stay longer and experience more.

The 690-guest ship departed Darwin, continuing her 18-night Singapore to Sydney sailing. She’ll call at Thursday Island, Port Douglas, Cairns and Townsville before arriving in Sydney for the first time on Sunday 19 February.

New Commercial Director APAC for PONANT

Sarina Bratton, PONANT chairman Asia Pacific, has announced the appointment of highly regarded travel industry executive Deb Corbett, who will take up the newly created position of commercial director APAC for PONANT.

Deb Corbett will report to Monique Ponfoort, VP PONANT Asia Pacific. She will be responsible for commercial growth in the APAC region and overseeing PONANT’s marketing and sales teams located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Shanghai.

Prior to this role Deb Corbett was head of sales, marketing and product with Travel the World and held senior management roles with Garuda Indonesia, Travelscene American Express and CTC Lines.

Royal Caribbean South Pacific deals

Royal Caribbean believes every moment in the beautiful South Pacific should be enjoyed, including the journey to the island paradises, which is why it has two of its most fun-packed twin sister ships – Explorer of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas – dedicated to sailing Pacific itineraries all summer long. Best of all, for a limited time only, Royal Caribbean is offering a generous 45 per cent saving on selected South Pacific cruises onboard the sisters!

Royal Caribbean’s South Pacific itineraries whisk guests away to idyllic destinations like Mystery Island and Port Vila in Vanuatu,  Noumea and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia as well as Suva and Lautoka in Aussie favourite, Fiji.

It’s not too late to book the perfect summer cruise holiday for families of all ages and sizes on the South Pacific Sisters. Guests who book on selected Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas cruises between February 13 and February 28 will receive up to 45 per cent off the fare of the first two guests.

Amadeus New Year special

European river cruise operator Amadeus River Cruises has extended its New Year discount until 28 February 2017 as a result of strong demand for its high-end luxury voyages offered at preferential prices.

McLachlan Tours, the nation’s exclusive wholesaler of Amadeus River Cruises is offering guests who book by 28 February a 10 per cent discount on all 2017 river cruises, including itineraries on the maiden voyages of the latest elegant addition to the fleet, MS Amadeus Provence, the first river cruiser featuring its own dedicated pool deck, with an infinity-style plunge pool and Lido Bar.

Additionally, agents will receive an extra special introductory offer, earning $200 per person booked on any itinerary and cabin type for 2017 cruises.

Bookings should be made by 5:30pm on 28 February 2017 AEDT. For more information on Amadeus River Cruises, or to book, visit amadeus-rivercruises.com.au or call 1300 269 228.

Viking prices plummet

Viking River Cruises is offering guests a chance to embark on its 15-day Grand European Tour in 2018 from the special price of $5,995 inclusive of return airfares to Europe. The 15-day itinerary takes guests through four countries including Hungary, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands.

Travelling through the heart of Europe, guests will have the opportunity to visit nine UNESCO World Heritage sites and embark on 12 guided tours.

One of Viking’s most iconic itineraries, guests will trace the legendary Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers between the stunning landscapes of Hungary and the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland.

50% more reason to book a family holiday

Bentours & Hurtigruten have launched a ‘Friends & Family 50% discount’ promotion. This amazing offer is on a selection of expedition cruises offering 50% off for triple and quad share cabins.

Featuring destinations like Iceland, Greenland, Canadian High Arctic, Spitsbergen, Chile and Antarctica this incredible offer is available on select departures in the months of May-Aug 2017, Dec 2017 & May-July 2018. Choose from 11 different expedition cruises with a total of 17 departures. Book from today until 30 April 2017 – or until sold out. Strictly limited offer, first come basis.

Celebrate Christmas Eve on Cape Horn and New Year in Antarctica on the voyage ‘The Legendary Magellan, Chilean fjords & Antarctica’ on the MS Midnatsol departing on 17^th December 2017. Price for a quad berth cabin (I4 polar inside cabin) was from $46,700 per cabin and is now from $23,350 per cabin, that is a huge saving of $23,350 per cabin!

Want to tick Iceland off the bucket list? Try ’Elves, Sagas & Volcanoes’ on the MS Spitsbergen departing 12^th of June. Price for a quad berth cabin (K4 superior inside cabin) was from $24,400 per cabin, now is from $12,200 per cabin. That’s a huge saving of $12,200 per cabin!

Legend takes her final cruise

After two successful seasons serving as Royal Caribbean’s first ever Brisbane based ship and 21 years with the cruise line, Royal Caribbean’s true legend of the fleet, Legend of the Seas, will bid adieu to her Queensland home on 20 February 2017, and depart the fleet in March.

Her very last roundtrip Brisbane cruise from Portside Wharf departs today, 8 February 2017. Legend of the Seas’ final Queensland farewell will take place on 20 February 2017, when she departs for Singapore and makes her way to her new home with Thomson Cruises in the UK.

Silversea unveils onboard art

Silversea Cruises is pleased to announce further details of its all-new Arts Café, exclusive to Silver Muse.  Silversea’s new flagship vessel is set to launch in April 2017, with the Arts Café ensuring there is a unique space, evoking the ambience of an art gallery, where guests are able to relax and unwind, surrounded by some of the most exquisite pieces of art.

This extraordinary venue is in addition to the eight industry-defining restaurants aboard Silver Muse, highlighting the ultra-luxury cruise line’s unparalleled commitment to dining and culinary options.

Calling at 34 countries and 130 ports in 2017 alone, Silver Muse will redefine ocean travel, enhancing the small-ship intimacy with spacious all-suite accommodations that are the hallmarks of the Silversea experience.  The addition of Silver Muse will expand Silversea’s fleet to nine ships and will, once again significantly raise the bar in the ultra-luxury cruise market.

Avalon puts spotlight on experiences

Avalon Waterways has unveiled a series of inspiring new videos to help its travel agent partners showcase the very best of the cruise line to Australian travellers.

Starring popular television presenter and longtime Avalon ambassador Deborah Hutton, the 10 new videos each highlight a different aspect of Avalon’s offering and inclusions, from its staterooms with panoramic windows and beds that face the view, through to its delicious onboard dining options and culinary cruises.

You can view the rest here.

TravelManagers’ PTM Sails to Victory

TravelManagers’ Victoria based personal travel manager Derek Harwood, representative for Forest Hill won the Home Based/Mobile Agent of the Year – Australia award at the annual 2017 CLIA Awards held at Star Event Centre on Saturday 11 February in Sydney.

Harwood a self-confessed cruise-a-holic, was surprised to be nominated as a finalist, and completely humbled by his award win.

“I am grateful to have worked with some inspiring people in travel over the last 17 years and certainly my last nine years in the cruise industry has been my most rewarding.

“My greatest reward is planning a great cruising holiday for my clients and being able to work in an industry that I love. It’s an absolute honour and privilege to be recognised by the CLIA members in this way. Winning this award really is the icing on the cake for me.”