The cruise industry has been busy this week! This wrap is practically overflowing with launches, deals and all manner of cruise news.

Cruise Europe with National Geographic Scenic in 2020

Restored castles still watch from their position atop dramatic hilltops and the sites of ancient battles have been replaced by tranquil countryside and thriving communities. Discover historic  Europe on a 15 day Legendary Rivers of Europe Cruise with National Geographic and Scenic Luxury River Cruises, starting from $10,450 per person.

Exclusive highlights of your National Geographic River Cruise with Scenic:

• A National Geographic expert will assist in exploring 11 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including medieval Bamberg, the Wurzburg Residenz and the grand Gothic cityscape of Budapest.
• Sample wines and compare tasting notes from Austria’s Wachau Valley and the Rheingau region of Germany. Enjoy a pint from the world’s oldest monastic brewery outside Regensburg.
• Enjoy expert insights from local guides during visits to Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and Vienna’s Museum of Natural History, whose meteorite exhibit was co-curated by a National Geographic grantee.

Be among the first to discover HMS Erebus – lost to the world for 170 years

Passengers on a voyage through the Arctic Circle’s Northwest Passage this September could be among the first ever visitors to the wreck site of HMS Erebus, one of the two ships of the ill-fated 1845 Franklin expedition.

Lost to the world for 170 years, the ship was found in 2014. It remains in a protected area, but Adventure Canada has secured the opportunity to visit – should weather and ice conditions allow. Guests may be able to see the Erebus wreck via an underwater remote-controlled camera, as well as the location where the ship went down, and meet those who monitor the wreck sites. This makes the Northwest Passage cruise extra special, due to this new project to get to the bottom of the Franklin expedition mystery.

Last-minute bookings on the ‘Out of the Northwest Passage’ cruise are still available, and Australians can receive two nights’ free accommodation, thanks to a special offer from Adventure Canada and Cruise Traveller. Additionally, solo travellers on the 18-night expedition cruise package can book without paying a solo supplement, subject to availability.

Creative Cruising’s Bubbles Bonus travel agent exclusive to Creative Cruising

Creative Cruising, Australia’s leading independent cruise wholesaler, launched an exclusive Travel Agent Luxury campaign that rewards Agents with French champagne! Travel agents who book and deposit Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Silver Expeditions sailings by 31 July 2019 will receive two bottles of the cruise line’s signature French Champagne featured onboard*!

Creative Cruising is offering two bottles of French champagne, one for the travel agent and one for their guest! Creative Cruising will send travel agents that have eligible bookings 2 bottles of either Jacquart Brut Mosaique of Crystal Cruises; Montaudon Brut Champagne of Regent Seven Seas and Pommery of Silversea Cruises. Sailings must be booked and deposited between 21 June – 31 July 2019.

Creative Cruising has tailor-made some spectacular packages with incredible savings and inclusions for their travel agent partners with exclusive savings such as reduced fares in conjunction within market offers including bonus 5 per cent bonus commission with Silversea Expeditions until 30 June and fly free business class airfares with selected Silversea sailings!

Carnival launches first full season of cruises from Sydney and Brisbane 

Carnival Cruise Line today launched its latest round of sailings for the first half of 2021 (January to June) across its two ships dedicated to sail year-round in Australia. With 56 cruises on offer, it will be the largest season in Australia to date.

On sale from June 2019, Carnival’s latest program release will see almost double the number of sailings compared to its 2020 season, including a 66% increase in shorter ‘Fun Size’ cruises on Carnival Spirit sailing from Brisbane, and Carnival Splendor sailing from Sydney.

Queenslanders will have the opportunity to experience a number of unique cruises to the South Pacific onboard Carnival Spirit when it sails from Brisbane year-round from October 2020, including a maiden call to the untouched tropical Fijian island of Dravuni. With a population of 125 people, this island is the definition of a secluded paradise.

Carnival Spirit will sail to a variety of beautiful South Pacific Islands including Santo, Isle of Pines, Mare, Lifou Isle and Mystery Island as part of her 7 to 11-night itineraries departing Brisbane.

Queenslanders after a holiday between their holidays can also take advantage of Carnival Spirit’s ‘Fun Size’ cruises departing Brisbane, offering 4-night cruises to Airlie Beach and 3-night weekend sampler cruises.

Carnival Splendor will also boast a number of unique sailings departing from Sydney from December 2019, offering short, ’Fun Size’ cruises to Moreton Island, Tasmania and Weekend Samplers, a themed cruise to the Melbourne Cup,  longer 7 to 11-night sailings to the South Pacific, as well as 10-night cruises to the South Island of New Zealand.

Viking launches seven new ocean cruise itineraries 

Viking has launched a selection of seven new ocean cruise itineraries for culturally curious travellers, sailing Australia, Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe.

Departing in 2021 and ranging from 22 to 40 days in length, these newly released and incredibly diverse, open-jaw itineraries will allow guests the opportunity to explore an unusual mix of destinations, such as India, Oman and Egypt; or Australia, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Book before 31 August 2019 and save up to $1000 per couple, plus receive flights from just $395 per person, one way.

P&O Cruises Returns to Tasmania’s Hit Winter Festival, Dark Mofo

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Explorer arrived in Hobart with more than 2000 passengers and crew to visit Tasmania’s Dark Mofo festival.

The cruise brings the single largest group of interstate visitors to the state’s iconic winter event and is expected to inject around $750,000 into the local economy.

This is the second time P&O Cruises has sailed in to Tasmania’s popular annual event, providing guests from around the country with the chance to spend the next two days in port experiencing the large-scale public art, food, music, light, film and oddities on offer at the event.

P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said the cruise had proved so popular that flagship Pacific Explorer will be returning to visit Dark Mofo for a third time in 2020.

48 days of authentic European beauty: Silversea’s Silver Shadow embarks on Mediterranean grand voyage 2019

Silversea’s elegant, all-suite Silver Shadow recently set sail from Barcelona on the cruise line’s 48-day Mediterranean Grand Voyage 2019. Departing on 11 June after an overnight in the Catalan capital, this round-trip voyage will unlock 39 destinations in nine countries for guests, as they journey closer to the breath-taking scenery and unique cultures of this storied region.

On 9 June, the evening prior to embarkation, guests on Silversea’s Mediterranean Grand Voyage 2019 enjoyed a bespoke Welcome Gala in the Garden Room of Barcelona’s Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I hotel, which comprised a sophisticated evening of cocktails, dinner and live jazz music. Hosted by Silversea Executives Peter Shanks, Managing Director for UK and Ireland, and Frank Sansone, Vice President of Guest Relations, this exclusive occasion was the first of three events that will unfold during the voyage. The second event, which was hosted on 17 June and was preceded by a scenic tour of the French Riviera, entailed an elegant dinner at Nice’s iconic Negresco Hotel. The third event will embrace authentic Greek culture with a Greek-themed evening of dinner and dancing at the Pleiades Restaurant in Patmos, Greece.

Azamara ventures beyond the sea with the debut of the largest selection of pre- and post-voyage land programs in the cruising industry

Azamara Club Cruises is proud to announce the debut of the largest selection of pre- and post- voyage land programs in the cruise industry. The destination-focused brand has announced it will offer a total of over 1,700 land program offerings, which complement the brand’s immersive voyages and further enhances its commitment to bringing guests closer to the heart of a destination. The brand’s newly expanded destination portfolio, and continuous focus on Destination Immersion, marks Azamara Club Cruises’ evolution to Azamara, removing “Club Cruises” from its name and debuting a revitalised logo.

The new name and logo reflect a redefined dedication to the Destination Immersion brand and deepen the brand’s renewed focus on cruising and immersive inland experiences. The logo’s three main features include: an open world symbol signifying infinite opportunities for world travel, and the brand’s commitment to connecting guests to both iconic and off-the-beaten-path destinations; the two artistic strokes represent both land and sea experiences—the left stroke signifies the Earth and the brand’s expanded inland explorations, and the right stroke represents the sea and extensive vastness that Azamara crosses; the star in the design is representative of Azamara’s namesake “Acamar,” which means the brightest star in the southern sky and represents the brand’s ‘north star’; like a compass that drives balance, direction and dependability.

Geri Horner Test Drives RockStar Suites aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady

In celebration of the expanded offerings, the brand has today released exclusive video content of the suites, which features Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard Branson, and legendary British pop star, Geri Horner, of the hugely successful girl group, the Spice Girls.

The video documents Horner test driving the Virgin Voyages ‘Gorgeous Suite,’ one of the ship’s most glamorous cabins, as a favor to her longtime friend, Branson. Following Horner’s journey through the suite, the footage chronicles her full RockStar experience, as she’s seen spinning records, reading Branson’s book, rocking out with a guitar, indulging in champagne and partying the night away in true Rebellious Luxe fashion.

Last days: Cruise360 early birds set to expire

Early booking prices for the cruise industry’s key annual forum Cruise360 Australasia are still available, but there are only a few days left to take advantage of CLIA’s exclusive member offer.

The current earlybird rate will expire on June 30, leaving just over a week to secure the best price and lock-in tickets before the end of the financial year.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz said this year’s event on August 30 would sell out, as it had done for the past three years.