Need a holiday as much as we do? Cruise through Wednesday with this wrap. And yes, we know that was terrible (we really need a holiday).

APT Ships secure top six spots in third edition of Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe and the USA

Today, APT and partner AmaWaterways announced that its ships have earned six of the top ten positions in the much-anticipated third edition of the Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe & the USA travel guide.

Securing this year’s coveted number one spot is the AmaKristina, thanks to outstanding cuisine and service according to author Douglas Ward*, the world’s foremost independent authority on cruising and cruise ships.

After an evaluation of 320 river ships, APT and AmaWaterways’ ships outranked the competition in total points covering the categories of hardware, accommodations, cuisine, service and miscellaneous, highlighting the company’s commitment to delivering the highest quality product and guest service. Receiving the top four-star plus rating in the book were eleven ships – AmaBella, AmaCerto, AmaKristina, AmaPrima, AmaReina, AmaSerena, AmaSonata, AmaStella, AmaVenita, AmaVerde and AmaViola. 

The fleets’ 20th ship launched in March of this year and will be evaluated in the next edition of the guide. The company’s innovative and highly-anticipated new ship AmaMagna – set to debut in 2019 – is highlighted in this year’s guide as a ‘stunning, double-width rivership’ having ‘oodles of space, comfort and pizzazz.’

Newly Refurbished Ships, Flight Deals and Savings for Europe 2019

Today, premium tour operator, Travelmarvel, launched their 2019 Europe River Cruising brochure, announcing amazing Earlybird savings on a huge range of journeys set to take place on their fleet of newly-refurbished European Gems river ships.

Presenting more choice, more value and more inclusions than ever before, Travelmarvel’s latest brochure has all the information and local knowledge you’ll need to inspire your guests to book a fantastic immersion into Europe’s most beautiful corners.

Help turn your client’s dreams of a European river cruise into a reality with Travelmarvel’s Fly Free Earlybird deals on all 2019 departures that include a European Gems or Russia river cruise. Guests who combine selected European Gems river cruises with a City Stay or Land Journey will not only Fly Free but will also save up to $1,000 per couple. Offers are strictly limited and available until sold out.

Other Earlybird offers include two for one airfares on all departures that include Douro River Cruises, and savings of up to $5,000 per couple on selected Coastal Cruises, Rail Journeys and Land Journeys.

Celebrity Cruises celebrates the launch of Celebrity Edge with incredible Agent Incentive

The countdown is on with less than six months to go until Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge makes her debut in November 2018, and to celebrate the cruise line is giving two lucky travel agents from Australia or New Zealand the chance to win a place on the inaugural trade voyage.

Agents who make a new booking in June on any Celebrity Cruises sailing departing before 30 April 2019 can visit www.celebritycruises.com.au/edgeincentive and register using their booking reference number.

A separate invitation for two is on offer for wholesale team members who can visit www.celebritycruises.com.au/edgewholesaleincentive to register. Bookings must be fully deposited and registered by 30 June 2018 to be eligible to win.

The winning retail agent and wholesale agent will have return economy class flights to Miami and one night’s accommodation in Fort Lauderdale included in their prize, before they board Celebrity Edge for a two night Caribbean cruise in November 2018.

PONANT celebrates 30 years of luxury and expedition voyages with generous incentives and bonus commissions

Monique Ponfoort, Vice President Asia Pacific for PONANT, has announced a generous trade promotion for the Kimberley and Antarctica.

This is PONANT’s 30th year of operation, during which they have grown from a single three mast yacht, Le Ponant, to a global operation with the youngest fleet of small ships, a further six new Explorer ships currently under construction plus the world-first luxury LNG powered icebreaker to be operational in 2021.

For all NEW bookings made and deposited during the period June 4 to July 31, 2018, on 2019 Kimberley and/or 2018-2020 Antarctica sailings, the following trade incentives will apply:

• Consultants will earn a $500* Coles/Myer Gift Voucher for every guest booked
• Plus, each agency will earn a BONUS five per cent commission.

Silversea Expeditions celebrates 10 years of pioneering exploration and destination leadership

On 3 June, 2018, Silversea Expeditions proudly celebrated 10 years of luxurious expedition cruising, marking the occasion with a two-day gala voyage between London and Dublin. On this momentous day, the ultra-luxury Silver Cloud departed London’s Tower Bridge amid great elation to honour Silversea Expeditions’ very first voyage, which sailed under Tower Bridge for Svalbard a decade ago to the day.’

In a nod to the company’s continued focus on innovation, Silver Cloud, which was the first vessel in Silversea’s fleet and was reimagined as an elegant ice-class expedition ship in late 2017, crossed paths with Silver Spirit – Silversea’s recently lengthened and renovated ship – in Greenwich, London.

The array of enrichments aboard Silver Cloud’s celebratory voyage included a congratulatory video message from HSH Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, who had cut the ribbon in Monte Carlo during the naming ceremony for Silversea’s first expedition ship in 2008. Originally named Prince Albert II in tribute to His Serene Highness and his environmental efforts, the ship sails today as Silver Explorer and continues a legacy of sustainable tourism.

Norwegian Bliss makes history as the largest ship christened in Seattle

Following a month and a half long show-stopping tour that began in Bremerhaven, Germany and continued around the United States and included previews in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, Norwegian Cruise Line’s highly-anticipated ship, Norwegian Bliss, was officially christened today in her North American summer home of Seattle, Washington.

Following a preview sailing from May 30 – June 2, Norwegian Bliss, the third ship in the most successful class in the line’s history, will commence her inaugural Northern American summer season with cruises to Alaska including calls in Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Victoria, British Colombia beginning June 2. She will join Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl as the youngest fleet ever to cruise to Alaska.

Norwegian Bliss was welcomed to her North American summer home with a sky-high water-canon salute by the Seattle Fire Department, as she cruised into the Port of Seattle. The recently renovated and expanded Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, a public-private investment between Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and the Port of Seattle, received the 168,000-gross-tonne ship with a capacity of 4,004, double occupancy, early this morning.

The enhanced terminal features three times the square footage, increasing the usage capacity by 300 percent, a dedicated lounge for suite guests and more guest-facing elements providing a seamless, comfortable and stylish ship-to-shore experience.

Oceania Cruises launches brand new Atlas Brochure

Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary and destination-focused cruise line, has launched its comprehensive new Atlas brochure for Australian and New Zealand travel agents, who are now able to order their copies through Brochure Flow (within Australia), Travel Marketing (within New Zealand) or through the company’s website.

To celebrate the launch of the new Atlas, the single most important tool for agents to help them plan, sell and book cruises for clients across Oceania Cruises’ six-strong fleet of award-winning ships, a number of special offers are being extended to your clients including: a limited-time season launch offer with 50 per cent reduced deposits; and OLife Choice, which gives guests free internet and a choice of free shore excursions, free beverage package or free shipboard credit.*

Including departures from November 2018 to July 2020, the Atlas Brochure brings to life exciting destinations throughout the Mediterranean, the Baltics, Australia, the South Pacific, Asia and Alaska, to name but a few.