Welcome to the best cruise wrap in cruise wrap history. Although that’s not to say we’ve ever done a bad one.

Silversea announces three new tale tellers for its World Cruise 2019

Silversea, an innovator in the ultra-luxury cruise line industry, is proud to reveal the identities of three new Tale Tellers for its 2019 World Cruise – an exciting selection of celebrated creatives who will each illustrate one of the nine segments of the extended voyage.

Steve McCurry, Alain de Botton, and Sophy Roberts will each embark Silver Whisper for a segment of the incredible 52-port voyage, joining Paul Theroux, Pico Iyer and four other Tale Tellers who are yet to be announced. The talented creatives will each host a series of lectures for guests while on board and will produce a literary journal or artwork, inspired by their sailed destinations, to capture their experiences. Their efforts will enrich the onboard experience for Silversea guests and will combine to create a fascinating anthology of the voyage, which will then be presented as a gift to world cruisers.

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic to venture into one of the most rugged and wildlife rich regions on earth in 2019

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has announced a remarkable program of voyages for 2019 that will venture into the Russian Arctic, one of the most rugged and wildlife-rich regions on the planet. The three new itineraries will give a different glimpse into life in the remote Russian Far East & Bering Sea, where spectacular wildlife, an intriguing native culture, arresting mysteries and world-class exploration history abound.

The human element is one of the richest aspects of visiting the Arctic, and this region is no exception. Communities of Siberian Yup’ik people still follow traditional methods of hunting seals and whales, while the coastal Koryak and Chukchi people of Russia have developed into incredible reindeer herders living off the land – and are a part of why few travellers leave this place unchanged.

Several of Lindblad’s exemplary expedition team have spent time in the region, and were integral to the development of the expeditions.

RCL Cruises announces Asia Pacific leadership changes

Royal Caribbean has today announced the resignation of its Associate Vice President and Managing Director in Australia & New Zealand, Adam Armstrong.

Adam has been with the business since 2009, when Royal Caribbean opened its local office, and is leaving to pursue other interests, effective August 2018.

Adam first joined the company as Commercial Manager as one of the first locally-based employees. In 2016, he took on the role of Managing Director and has overseen a period of significant growth for the RCL family of brands, culminating with all three cruise lines – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara – sailing down under for the past three cruise seasons.

Adam will be replaced by Susan Bonner, currently based in Miami as Vice President of Revenue Management and Onboard Revenue for Celebrity Cruises. Susan has been with the company for over 10 years, and brings considerable skills and expertise to the role to ensure the continued success of Royal Caribbean in the region. Susan will transition to the Sydney office over the coming months.

Crystal Cruises Announces 2020 World Cruise

Embarking on a comprehensive exploration of the Southern Hemisphere from Miami to Rome,
Crystal Serenity’s 2020 World Cruise offers travellers a journey filled with tropical havens,
ancient treasures and modern marvels.

The 105-day Epic Empires and Idyllic Isles’ voyage marks Crystal Cruise’s 25th World Cruise,
and visits 47 cities in 23 countries from January 6, 2020, to April 21, 2020. The journey also transits the Panama and Suez Canals, as well as the Pacific and Indian oceans and Andaman, Tasman and Mediterranean seas. Overall, the itinerary features dozens of diverse cultures and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, balanced with adventurous terrain and island retreats, and is available in seven focused segments of up to 13 to 18 days, as well as the full World Cruise voyage.

Additionally, full world cruisers will have the option to embark in Los Angeles for an 89-day voyage beginning on January 22nd, 2020, culminating in Rome on April 21st, 2020.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Hawaii 2018/21 Cruising Guide out now

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has recently released its 2018/21 Hawaii Cruising Guide, featuring their award winning seven-day roundtrip cruise from Honolulu – Voted Best Hawaii Itinerary 13 years in a row by Porthole Cruise Magazine. The brochure includes departure dates every Saturday year-round from February 2018 – April 2021. NCL’s Hawaii Cruising Guide is a must-read for anyone wanting to visit the Aloha State – from the white sands of Diamond Head Beach in Honolulu and the nature trails in ‘Heavenly Hana’, through to the ancient sites of the city of Kona – the best parts of Hawaii are all on offer.

Cruising onboard the recently refurbished (2016) Pride of America, guests booking NCL’s Hawaii itinerary will explore the islands of Maui, Kaua’i, O’ahu and of course, Hawai’i – with NCL being the only cruise line visiting four Hawaiian Islands as part of a seven-day sailing.

To really maximise their time stateside, guests travelling with Norwegian Cruise Line also have the opportunity to kickstart their holiday with a pre-cruise NCL O’ahu Explorer Cruisetour. Run over the four days leading up to their cruise, guests will get to explore O’ahu island like a local – from wandering through the surfing towns of Haleiwa and exploring the region’s moving World War II historical sites, to traversing the majestic peaks of Kualoa Ranch.

Sales soar for Aurora Expeditions Greg Mortimer and its inaugural 2019/2020 polar season

Aurora Expeditions, Australia’s leading expedition cruising company, has today announced the overwhelming response to its new world-class expedition ship Greg Mortimer and its inaugural 2019/2020 polar season.

Following a month of trade, consumer and media events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and attendance at 12 industry expos (including FCL, Helloworld, and AIME tradeshows), it’s unsurprising that the Early Booking offers launched with the itineraries are already almost fully booked – just four weeks since launch.

The two exclusive deals include a free upgrade from Aurora Stateroom to Balcony Stateroom valid on all 2019/2020 Antarctica and the Arctic voyages or the option to save up to $6,000 per person on other selected cabin categories.

Construction Has Begun on the 2nd Modern Riverboat in the American Cruise Lines’ Series

American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce that construction has begun on the second modern riverboat in the series of five. The second riverboat is the sister-ship to state-of-the-art American Song, the first modern riverboat available in the U.S., which will make its inaugural cruise on the Mississippi River this October.

The Line’s commitment to building only new ships has given it a decided advantage in the U.S. market, where most other companies refurbish older ships which do not offer the same spacious design and innovative technical advancements.

Itinerary details will be released soon, but American Cruise Lines has said that the second new riverboat in the series will be available in the summer, 2019. Work has already started at Chesapeake Shipbuilding, in Salisbury, MD, where the American Song is also being built.