This cruise wrap envies the length of a ship. Though sadly, it’s not filled with a swimming pool or waiters ready to take your cocktail order.

Seabourn launches innovative month-long “Global Partner Appreciation Event” in March 2018

Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line, is launching a “Global Partner Appreciation Event” in March to demonstrate its ardent support of the travel professional community worldwide.

Taking place March 5-30, 2018, the line’s global sales teams in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia will reinforce and strengthen the commitment to travel professional partners through an increased number of activities, including seminars, webinars, conferences, events and in-person meetings.

The teams will share the many unique stories about Seabourn, including the launch of the new Seabourn Ovation in May 2018, new itineraries, company news, as well as ensure travel professionals understand the cornerstones of the Seabourn Difference and are fully equipped to grow their own business and identify new to cruise guests.

Seabourn’s teams will be showcasing a number of new tools to help share our story with travel professionals, including an incredible new 25 minute film showcasing this season’s first Antarctica voyage on Seabourn Quest. This visually stunning and inspirational film truly highlights the beauty of Antarctica and the experience guests have during this once in a lifetime opportunity that frequents many guest bucket lists.

P&O Cruises Australia to farewell Pacific Eden ahead of Golden Princess’ arrival

P&O Cruises Australia today announced that Pacific Eden would leave its fleet next year as part of the cruise line’s commitment to refresh its fleet over time.

A commercial arrangement has been reached to transfer the ship in April 2019 as part of P&O Cruises’ preparation for the arrival of the more modern and larger 2600-guest Golden Princess in 2020. And P&O Cruises also announced it would start offering voyages on Golden Princess before the end of this year.

Pacific Eden joined the local fleet at the end of 2015 and was one of the first ships to be transformed to reflect P&O’s modern Australian look-and -feel.

Pacific Eden’s final voyage will depart on 16 March 2019 before being transferred to a new operator in early April 2019.

CMV Group proudly announces the addition of ship number six to its fleet

The CMV Travel & Leisure Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of Pacific Eden from P&O Cruises Australia.

Pacific Eden’s new name will be announced on Tuesday 20th March and the vessel will join CMV’s expanding fleet with delivery in Singapore in early April 2019 followed by a short docking period to include livery change, re-brand and some preparatory works before she positions westbound to Northern Europe via the Suez on her inaugural voyage.

Continuing the explorer theme, four distinguished explorers have been shortlisted for the ship’s new name and the travel trade and Columbus Club Members will be invited to cast their vote. The shortlist includes: Vasco da Gama, Pytheas, Henry Hudson and Amerigo Vespucci.

The new ship will be deployed and dedicated to both the German and Australasian cruise markets. During the northern summer (May-October) the ship will operate under CMV’s German brand, TransOcean Kreuzfahrten homeporting from both Bremerhaven and Kiel and during the Australian summer season (December-March) from Fremantle (Perth) and Adelaide offering a more traditional scenic cruise experience.

Celebrity Cruises ‘Rings the Bell on the Seven Seas’ in honour of International Women’s Day

Across the entire fleet of Celebrity Cruises ships positioned around the world – from the Caribbean to Australia, and in all global offices, Celebrity will ‘Ring the Bell on the Seven Seas’ in honour of International Women’s Day, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

The campaign was born in partnership with the Red Shoe Movement in support of their Gender Equality Global Initiative. A special bell ringing ceremony will be hosted by Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises, on Celebrity Summit, with the ship’s executive team and the Founder and CEO of the Red Shoe Movement, Mariela Dabbah. Each Celebrity ship and the global offices will then follow with their own ceremony.

To learn more about the ceremony and Celebrity’s commitment to gender equality, follow along on social media using “#CelebratingWomen”, “#IWDleader”, “#IWD2018”, and “#GenderBell”.

Get ‘In The Know’ with Cruise at CLIA LIVE Events

Australian and New Zealand agents wanting to know the latest insights and innovations fuelling the booming local cruise industry can attend a new cruise event hosted by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia in Sydney or Auckland this autumn.

Dubbed CLIA LIVE, the event has had success in Europe and is being brought down under by CLIA Australasia to offer CLIA accredited agents in the region the chance to get the latest from local and international cruise operators all under the one roof.

Over two days in Sydney and one day in Auckland, dozens of cruise industry representatives from ocean and river cruise lines will provide short presentations on their brands’ unique selling points.

The Sydney event will be held on Wednesday April 18 and Thursday April 19 at Intercontinental Hotel Sydney. Tickets cost AU$50 per day, registrations close April 4.

Evergreen releases 2019 Canada Preview offers with guaranteed best prices on six popular cruise tours

Evergreen Cruises & Tours has launched 2019 Preview offers on six of the most popular cruise tours in its Canada & Alaska program. Exceptional value experiences start from only $6,440pp twin share for the 18 day deluxe Rockies Explorer tour with Alaskan Inside Passage cruise.

Due to the phenomenal popularity of Canada touring and Alaskan cruising worldwide, demand is currently exceeding supply and pricing for 2019 is set to increase. Locking in a Preview Offers provides protection against price rises when Evergreen’s full 2019 Canada & Alaska program is released in June.

As with all Evergreen’s worldwide cruising and touring programs, the popular “You’re invited” experiences are complimentary. In Canada and Alaska, these experiences can include a home-visit with an Iditarod (dog sled) champion and his furry friends, lunch at a family-run sugar shack in Quebec, an authentic Fur Traders Feast at Sun Peaks, and a Canadian Rockies Western Style dinner in Jasper just to name a few.

All Canada tours and cruises with Evergreen include transfers, port charges and taxes, tipping, gratuities and porterage.

Carnival Australia encourages women to be brave at International Women’s Day event last week

Carnival Cruise Line Vice President Australia, Jennifer Vandekreeke, addressed an audience of women and men at an International Women’s Day event in Sydney, Inspiring Greatness – hosted by Jito Connected and sponsored, in part by Carnival Australia.

Speaking to a crowd of key travel industry representatives at the event, Vandekreeke urged women to be brave and courageous, not perfect.

In a step to make the Inspiring Greatness event as practical as possible, Vandekreeke was one of four women to host a ‘hard skills’ bootcamp at the event today. Her finance focussed session was driven by an observation that all too often women shy away from the numbers, which holds them back from achieving greater success in business.

Now in its second year, the Inspiring Greatness event was started by Jito Connected. The event’s vision is to inspire women at all levels of leadership and open up a conversation that will create a ripple effect in helping Australians’ to encourage other women to greatness. Carnival Australia is one of the key sponsors and partners of the event, among others.

Highly acclaimed singer and actress Elaine Paige named Godmother of new Seabourn Ovation

One of the world’s best-loved and most highly awarded actresses and singers, Elaine Paige, will serve as godmother to Seabourn’s elegant new all-suite ship, Seabourn Ovation.

The naming ceremony will take place Friday, May 11, in the beautiful baroque harbour of Valletta, Malta during a spectacular ceremony that will light up the dramatic UNESCO World Heritage site and the 2018 European Capital of Culture. Seabourn enjoys a multi-year partnership with UNESCO to support their efforts to protect World Heritage at sites around the world.

Elaine Paige’s biography reads like a “who’s who” of the stage musical. She originated the role of Eva Peron in Evita, followed by Grizabella in Cats and Florence in Chess. She has starred in more smash hit West End and Broadway musicals than anyone else of her generation – from Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Anything Goes, Sunset Boulevard, to The King & I; Sweeney Todd and Follies – and many more.

When not performing, Elaine works tirelessly for charities including The Children’s Trust. She is President for the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, an Ambassador to the Royal Voluntary Service and an Artistic Associate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Other charities include Breast Cancer Campaign, the Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans, and Support Dogs amongst many others.

Experience Japan’s celebrated cherry blossom season with Norwegian Jewel

With Japan’s cherry blossom season fast approaching this March and April, travellers keen to discover the country’s unique mix of ancient sites and distinctive modern cities can book a holiday of a lifetime aboard Norwegian Jewel.

Boasting an incredible array of world-class dining, award-winning entertainment and accommodation options, in addition to activities sure to appeal to guests of all ages, Norwegian Jewel is the ideal home from which to explore the best that Japan, and the broader Asia region, has to offer. Choosing from three never before offered immersive itineraries, spanning from 11 to 15 days, guests can stroll through the awe-inspiring cherry blossoms in full bloom.

For a limited time, guests can take advantage of great offers, such as being able to choose up to five free inclusions including a free beverage package, free specialty dining package, free shore excursion credit, free wi-fi package or having their friends or family sail at a reduced rate, as well as enjoying reduced deposits and up to US$500 to spend on board.

Sailings timed to make the most of cherry blossom season and beyond include an 11-day itinerary departing from Hong Kong on March 21st, 2018, visiting Chinese ports Xiamen, Shanghai and Beijing, as well as Hakata, Kobe, and Shimizu in Japan – home to cherry blossom heaven in Shimizu Park and disembarking in Tokyo, where the blooms in Ueno Park are not to be missed.

Royal Caribbean has announced its Europe 2019 sailings, now on sale

Explorer of the Seas will not return to Alaska and instead replace Navigator of the Seas, sailing from Southampton, England during the Northern Hemisphere summer. The 4200-guest Voyager-class ship will sail two-night to 14-night itineraries throughout Europe calling at the picturesque ports of Florence, Naples and Stockholm for the very first time.

The move will also open up an exciting opportunity to book a bespoke World Journey with back-to-back sailings between Sydney and Southampton, England.

Independence of the Seas will continue to call Southampton, offering three- to 14-night itineraries during the 2019 season following her return to the UK this May after an incredible multi-million dollar makeover. New features include the Sky Pad – a brand new virtual reality, bungee trampoline experience that transports guests to another time and planet via a virtual reality headset; interactive waterpark, Splashaway Bay, which will be bigger and better than ever before; Puzzle Break, an all-new Escape Room; and an incredible glow-in-the-dark Laser Tag arena.

PONANT launches Expedition cruises with Jean-Louis Étienne

PONANT, the world leader in polar cruises, announces an exclusive collaboration with the sailor, mountaineer and explorer Jean-Louis Étienne, during unique cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands.

PONANT, the world leader in polar cruises and the only French shipowner to sail in the icy regions, announces a collaboration with Jean-Louis Étienne, the first man to have reached the North Pole solo and to have made the longest crossing of Antarctica with a dog sled.

The PONANT expedition cruises with Jean-Louis Etienne will allow passengers to benefit from the combined expertise of PONANT and this great explorer on the subject of the ecosystems of the polar regions, notably through a number of conferences aboard ship.

Jean-Louis Etienne has always followed his dreams, forging new routes during expeditions that have become legendary.

Holland America Line premiers “Planet Earth II in Concert”

New multimedia production takes guests on a musical adventure, revealing the planet from a new perspective with the latest ‘BBC Earth’ production.

Following the success of the highly acclaimed “Frozen Planet in Concert” that was produced in partnership with BBC Earth, Holland America Line is debuting “Planet Earth II in Concert” on nearly all ships in the fleet. Combining live music with a backdrop of breathtaking footage from the new, award-winning BBC Earth television series “Planet Earth II,” the exclusive show immerses guests in the most spectacular landscapes and habitats on Earth, bringing them eye-to-eye with the animals on screen.

During “Planet Earth II in Concert,” guests rub shoulders with acrobatic primates in the jungles of Madagascar, race alongside hunting lions in the remote sandy deserts of Namibia, face stormy seas of the Great Southern Ocean with a family of penguins and tap their toes along with dancing grizzly bears — all accompanied by a live orchestra that plays the main theme music by Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer and the original music score by Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe for Bleeding Fingers Music.

Crystal Debussy joins Crystal River Cruises fleet

Crystal River Cruises, the World’s Most Luxurious River Cruise Line, has welcomed Crystal Debussy to its award-winning fleet. The latest addition to the Crystal portfolio brings the river fleet to four luxury river ships since Crystal launched its river experiences in 2016.

The vessel was delivered to Crystal president and CEO, Tom Wolber at MV WERFTEN during the official handover ceremony in Wismar, Germany. In attendance was Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman and CEO of Crystal’s parent company, Genting Hong Kong (GHK), Colin Au, group president of GHK, and Jarmo Laasko, CEO of MV WERFTEN.

Crystal Debussy joins Crystal River Cruises, which was voted “Best River Cruise Line” by the readers of Travel + Leisure in the magazine’s 2017 World’s Best Awards. Sailing itineraries between Amsterdam and Basel, the 106-guest Crystal Debussy will travel along the Rhine River, beginning with her April 9, 2018 maiden voyage round-trip from Amsterdam.

SeaLink Travel Group to operate first ever Sydney Fish Market Ferry

SeaLink Travel Group announced today the commencement of the first ever fish market ferry service.

The service will begin on 24 March 2018 between Sydney Fish Market and King Street Wharf one Barangaroo and will initially operate on weekends, every 30 minutes, between 9:00am and 5:00pm.

The Fish Market Ferry is priced at $9 per person one way and $15 per person return.

Over the Easter period, the Fish Market Ferry will also operate on Good Friday (30 March) and Easter Monday (02 April) 2018, in addition to the weekend service. Sydney Fish Market receives approximately three million visitors per year with over half of them currently arriving by car.

Royal Caribbean launches annual family sale

Royal Caribbean is helping families plan their dream getaway for less, offering kids’ cruise fares from just AU$29/NZ$39 a day, plus up to 30 per cent off for mum and dad with the launch of the Annual Family Sale.

Available to book until 9 April 2018, the Annual Family Sale is applicable to all local sailings departing Australia between September 2018 and April 2019.

With three of the country’s largest and most feature-packed megaliners sailing down under in 2018/19, including Ovation of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas, families can rest easy knowing more is included in their cruise fare as standard. From accommodation, main meals, entertainment and activities, such as the FlowRider, ice skating rink, iFly and circus school, to the line’s award-winning kids club, Adventure Ocean, there is plenty of complimentary action on offer to keep the whole family entertained.

Plus, both Ovation of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas feature nurseries onboard for the very little ones (6-36 months), where trained professionals care for babies and toddlers in small-groups – also included in the fare.

The Cruise Centre adopts a greater work life balance

As the demand for home-based cruise consultants rises and a desire for greater work life balance becomes more apparent in today’s working environment, Goldman Group’s The Cruise Centre is branching out and hiring home-based cruise experts.

Leading travel company, The Goldman Group, acquired The Cruise Centre in 2017. Widely respected as one of Australia’s leading boutique cruise agencies, The Cruise Centre, led by Elizabeth Clarke, is acclaimed for its team of voyage specialists, all with extensive first-hand cruising expertise across a range of vessels to both trending and far flung destinations around the globe.

Celebrating 35 years in the travel business in 2018, The Goldman Group is planning the expansion of The Cruise Centre brand into Sydney and Melbourne and sees the recruitment of “at-home consultants” as a pillar of this expansion. Australia is currently the fifth largest source market for cruises globally, therefore strengthening The Cruise Centre was a top priority for the group.

Cut in two: the lengthening process of Silversea’s Silver Spirit begins at Fincantieri Shipyard in Palermo

A great spectacle of naval engineering, Silversea’s Silver Spirit has been cut in two at Fincantieri Shipyard in Palermo as part of her planned lengthening. A prebuilt 15-metre (49-feet) segment has been inserted and the ship is now being reconnected.

With the aim of amplifying guests’ on-board experience, the rare lengthening project will create more space in public areas and will enhance Silver Spirit’s facilities. Leoluca Orlando, the Mayor of Palermo welcomed the ship, and members of the international press, representatives of Silversea and Fincantieri, and other VIP guests were in attendance at two celebratory ceremonies, as the ship’s transformation got underway in Sicily on 10 and 11 March.

An air of excitement was cast over the shipyard as those present witnessed the dissection of the 36,009-ton ship, as well as the manoeuvering of the vast new mid-section into place. These important stages of the project ran with military precision, which pays testament to the quality of operations at the world-leading Fincantieri Shipyard. A rarely performed feat of maritime architecture, this type of lengthening has never before been employed for the extension of a luxury cruise ship.

Set your spirits free in India with Uniworld’s latest savings

Uniworld have announced incredible savings of $3,000 per person when booking select 2018 departures of India’s Golden Triangle & the Sacred Ganges itinerary.

Guests can delve deep into India’s vibrant culture with visits to legendary landmarks, religious sites and small villages lining the Ganges that few get to travel to and would be nearly impossible to organise without Uniworld. Clients will be mesmerised by Jaipur’s Pink City or Agra’s grand tribute to love, the Taj Mahal whilst a visit to Kolkata enables travellers to learn about Mother Theresa’s legacy.

Available until 31st March, 2018. Blackout dates apply.

Cunard and Ancestry.com collaborate to offer special event crossing: “A Journey of Genealogy”

For the first time ever Cunard has collaborated with Ancestry.com, the largest online family history resource in the world, to offer guests the opportunity to trace their family history on flagship liner Queen Mary 2 while sailing across the Atlantic.

Cunard played a critical role in the immigration movement to the US in the late 1800s — one in five immigrants who came through Ellis Island arrived on a Cunard liner. This Crossing offers an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of one’s ancestors and experience sailing across the Atlantic like so many immigrants did.

The seven-night Transatlantic Crossing, November 4-11, 2018, will feature four genealogists from Ancestry to assist guests in learning who they are and where they come from. These experts will show guests where their family originated, how to sift through census and military records, and determine their ethnic mix through AncestryDNA.

Australia’s newest superyacht to debut at Australian Superyacht Rendezvous

Australia’s newest, largest capacity and most exciting charter superyacht, Oneworld, is enroute from Dubai and set to launch at the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous being staged at Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard from 20-21 April 2018.

Primarily targeted at the corporate and private events market, the $10 million Gulf Craft designed and manufactured 31.5 metre Oneworld – which is both stunning and imposing in presence – has been custom-designed for the Australian charter market with an enormous 120-person capacity for events and weddings.

Oneworld owner, former hotelier and race car driver, Rod Salmon, said the vessel supersedes the capacity of any superyacht currently available for charter in Australia and will proudly offer a six-star luxury Mediterranean style service.

Norwegian Bliss begins her conveyance

Norwegian Bliss, the first cruise ship custom-built with features and amenities for the ultimate Alaska cruise experience, departed Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany last night local time, Tuesday, March 13, 2018, for her conveyance along the Ems River, and is arriving to Eemshaven, Netherlands tomorrow, Thursday, March 15, 2018.

Norwegian Bliss completed another key milestone with only two months until her highly-anticipated arrival to Seattle, Washington where she will offer seven-day Alaska cruises throughout the North American summer.

Measuring 303 metres long, 41 metres wide, and at a gross registered tonnage of 168,028, she embarked on her journey down the Ems River and up to the North Sea in reverse, making the narrow passage through Meyer Werft’s sea lock, with less than 1.2 metres clearance. This very careful manoeuvre took about two hours at a speed of only 0.2 knots. The precise navigation included a team of experienced Ems River pilots, navigation officers, the yard captain and the local German waterway authorities.