This week’s Cruise Wrap is full of silver linings and positive news, including big savings and messages of support.

Dream Cruises goes ahead with sale to help places in need

While many of your clients have put their travel plans on hold for now, having something to look forward to can provide a glimmer of hope during this time of uncertainty.

In a special message to its industry partners, Dream Cruises said it has been deliberating on whether or not to participate in the Click Frenzy Travel event.

“We deliberated over whether to withdraw in light of the current coronavirus pandemic. However, the sale has now been revised and reinvigorated, with the aim of providing a much-needed boost for local travel businesses in need. As such, we have decided to continue our involvement, with the intention to support our industry partners,” the line said.

“While operations for the Dream Cruises fleet have been temporarily suspended (as with the whole cruise industry), we are confident the industry will recover from this.

“Now more than ever we need to support each other. We are thinking of you and wishing you all the very best as we navigate this difficult time together.”

Here’s what they’re offering:

Click Frenzy GOLD offer   

• 7-night Fremantle to Sydney – (25 Oct 2020) = from $899 pp
• 7-night Tasmania ex Sydney  (Jan 2021)  = from $619 pp
• 7-night Sydney to Auckland – (1 Nov 2020) = from $511 pp

Click Frenzy SILVER offer

• 7-night Tasmania Cruise ex Sydney  (Feb 2021) = from $627 pp
• 7-night New Zealand ex Auckland (Nov 2020) = from $595 pp
• 7-night New Zealand ex Auckland (Dec 2020) = from $629 pp
• 7-night Auckland to Sydney – NYE Cruise (27 Dec 2020) = from $786 pp
• 7-night New Zealand ex Auckland – Christmas Cruise (20 Dec2020)= from $1080 pp
• 7-night Gems of the South Pacific – ex Auckland (29 Nov 2020) = from $560 pp
• The Palace – Cruise Tasmania in Luxury  (Jan – Feb 2021) = from $3880 pp
• The Palace – Cruise New Zealand in Luxury (Nov – Dec 2020) = from $4583 pp

ACA praises cruise sector for bold stance

The Australian Cruise Association (ACA) has praised the numerous cruise lines which have made the unprecedented decision over the last few days to suspend their operations temporarily in Australia.

The ACA also supports the announcement by Prime Minister, Scott Morrison today, as part of its forward planning around COVID-19, to ban cruise ships from foreign ports arriving into Australian ports for a period of 30 days.

Cruise the Kimberley in true luxury and save 25 per cent on remaining staterooms

After its sold-out maiden voyage last year, A&K’s incomparable 13-day luxury expedition cruise of the Kimberley – Kimberley Cruise: Australia’s Last Frontier – is due to depart again on 25 June 2020.

Exploring the vast and unspoiled Kimberley coast with A&K’s award-winning expedition team on the luxurious Le Laperouse’ exclusively chartered by A&K, this year’s voyage is (or was) also effectively sold out.

But as the result of several late cancellations from stay-at-home US guests, there is now limited last-minute availability in select stateroom and suite categories.

A&K has a window of opportunity to make these cabins available to Australian travellers at unprecedented prices. Book before 16 April and save 25 per cent on all cabin categories, with prices from $15,754 per person, and savings of up to $10,502 per cabin twin share in the best available cabin categories.

And if you’re travelling solo, enjoy savings of 50 per cent on the single supplement, with savings of up to $20,647.

Hurtigruten introduces “risk-free” rebookings as Norwegian government introduces new quarantine laws

Hurtigruten has introduced a risk-free flexible rebooking-policy – allowing guests to change their bookings to any Hurtigruten cruise until 1 July 2021.

To ensure flexibility for guests with Hurtigruten bookings, Hurtigruten has introduced a new flexible, and risk-free, rebooking policy.

REBOOKING POLICY SUMMARY

• For all guests booked on departures between 12 March and 30 June 2020, Hurtigruten is offering free rebooking on our Expedition or Norwegian coastal voyages sailing between 1 July 2020 and 1 July 2021.
• Guests changing bookings will receive a Hurtigruten Future Cruise Voucher to the value of 100 per cent of the fare plus a 10 per cent discount on their future cruise including fees.
• The rebooking offer is also valid for any new Hurtigruten bookings made by 30 April 2020.
• Hurtigruten Future Cruise vouchers will be valid on all Hurtigruten departures until 1 July 2021.
• The Hurtigruten Future Cruise Voucher is combinable with all other Hurtigruten offers.
• Changes to bookings need to be made 48 hours prior to your hotel check-in or cruise embarkation.

Guests that have booked their Hurtigruten voyage through a travel agent should contact their travel agent directly to change their booking. Guests with direct bookings through Hurtigruten are advised to contact one of our Expedition Specialists on 1300 322 062.

A-ROSA temporarily suspends cruises on the Rhine

A-ROSA River Cruises regrets to confirm that after temporarily suspending its cruises on the Danube, Rhône, Seine it also has to suspend its cruises on the Rhine. 

This follows announcements by authorities in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and France, which includes the closure of certain ports and borders, tighter entry regulations, and the cancellation of non-essential gatherings. All A-ROSA cruises on the Rhine and Danube will therefore be cancelled up to and including 3 April 2020, and all A-ROSA cruises on the Seine and Rhône will be cancelled up to and including 15 April 2020. 

A Royal thank you onboard Spectrum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International’s latest and first Quantum Ultra Class ship, Spectrum of the Seas, has become a regular sight in Sydney Harbour as our series of four-night humanitarian cruises for bushfire first responders continue.

The third and final complimentary coastal cruise set sail from Sydney on 13 March and returned on 17 March. During the first two sailings, guests relaxed with their loved ones, while representatives from various volunteer agencies presented Spectrum’s Captain Charles Teige with a Rural Fire Service (RFS) helmet in gratitude.