Cruise Wrap: MSC to launch eco-conscious tours, cruise returns to bushfire-affected NSW South Coast + MORE!
If, like us, you’re avoiding a stockpile of emails accrued over the long weekend like the plague, this week’s Cruise Wrap is the perfect five-minute distraction.
MSC to launch sustainability tour program, taking guests to Greece, Jamaica, the UAE and Iceland
MSC Cruises has unveiled a series of eco-tours under its new ‘PROTECTOURS’ program, featuring shore excursions to Jamaica, Greece and the United Arab Emirates.
Guests will now have the opportunity to hike through Jamaican forests with rescue dogs, learn about honey production in Corfu, Greece, take a desert conservation tour in Abu Dhabi, UAE, or journey to Iceland’s Guðmundarlundur forest on horseback for a tree planting experience.
While currently only offering three experiences, MSC says the tours offered in its PROTECTOURS program will increase over time.
MSC has also set specific objectives for local tour operator partners to become internationally certified under the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s certification program. This adds to the cruise line’s status as a carbon-neutral company.
Cruise visit signals a path to recovery on NSW South Coast: CLIA
The Australian cruise industry has helped mark a milestone for recovering communities on the NSW South Coast as the 2,000-passenger Norwegian Jewel today became the first ship to visit the port of Eden since the recent bushfires.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) managing director Australasia Joel Katz said the ship’s visit was an important step forward for the Australian tourism industry as it worked to support regional economies in many parts of the country.
“With the return of cruise tourism to Eden, 100 per cent of Australia’s cruise ports are now open for business and welcoming visitors,” Katz said.
“More than 60 cruise ships will call on Australian ports over the current summer season and the fact they’re all continuing to operate as scheduled will help lift confidence in many parts of the tourism industry.”
Savings and special offers on six great Hurtigruten polar destinations
Hurtigruten has unveiled six offers on as many destination cruises, with travellers able to cash in on savings of up to $9,000.
Travel advisers and their clients can take advantage of sales on the following six destinations: Antarctica, the Northwest Passage, Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, and Norway expeditions.
The exclusive ‘World Global Sale’ runs until 15 March 2020.
Silversea opens sales on new grand voyage Mediterranean 2021
Silversea Cruises has opened general sales on a new 59-day grand voyage in the Mediterranean, visiting 45 destinations in 17 countries.
Between 8 September and 5 November 2021, Silversea’s guests will travel in the cruise line’s trademark level of comfort aboard the recently refurbished Silver Shadow.
Crystal’s Australian office launches AUD fares
Crystal Cruise’s Australian office is now offering cruise fares in Australian dollars across ocean, river, yacht and expedition cruises.
The Australian dollar fares are displayed on Australia’s recently launched regional version of crystalcruises.com, which went live in late 2019.
Opening in 2017, Crystal’s full-service Australian office was the first corporate office to open outside of the United States and the multi-currency offering is another example of the company’s ever-expanding global business.
Scenic Eclipse releases Artic, Fjords, Mediterranean and Europe brochures 2020/2021
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has released its 2020/21 Scenic Eclipse Artic & Fjords, and Europe & Mediterranean brochures, detailing cruise voyages and land excursions visiting each region.
To mark their release, Scenic is offering a range of special early bird offers. To secure your choice of Scenic Eclipse cruise and suite preference, book now to receive these special offers:
- A 10 per cent saving on cruise and suite upgrades when combined with a land tour
- Early payment discounts also apply if you book and pay in full by 31 March 2020 to secure these additional discounts
- Discounts of up to $700 per person on cruises of 10 days or longer
- Discounts of up to $450 per person on cruises fewer than 10 days.
Save up to $3,000 per couple on new American BBQ themed river cruises
For a limited time, the American Queen Steamboat Company is offering Australians savings of up to US$2000 (almost $3,000) per couple on an eight-night ‘American BBQ Challenge Cruise’. The deal is valid for bookings made before March 31, 2020.
Travellers will step aboard the American Duchess for a culinary experience with a difference, with two departure dates available: 27 September and 18 October 2020. The eight-night journey begins with a pre-night stay at the historic Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, before winding north to Alton, Illinois.
The highlight of the cruise is a BBQ Challenge with American Queen Steamboat Company culinary teams taking on local BBQ professionals for the ultimate BBQ master title, with cruise guests as the judges. When you’re not indulging your tastebuds with barbecue ribs, brisket and pulled pork, there are a range of complimentary shore excursions you can join to get to know the cities on your itinerary.
P&O Cruises celebrates Australia Day on Sydney Harbour
For the eighth year running, P&O Cruises celebrated Australia Day on Sydney Harbour with nearly 2,000 guests onboard Pacific Explorer “enjoying” a giant deck party jam-packed with “Australiana-filled activities”.
These included the cruise line’s annual ‘Look Like an Aussie Legend’ competition, thong throwing contests, meat pie eating championships and an Australian national anthem sing off.
Save now on Russian summer river cruise
Travellers can save up to $1,200 on Cruise Russia’s selection of Russian cruise tours and cruise-only itineraries.
Savings can be enjoyed on the ‘Russian Rhapsody’ cruise, which explores Moscow and St Petersburg, and a myriad of historic towns in-between, including the Golden Ring city of Uglich and Kizhi Island- famous for the Transfiguration Church.
Book and deposit by 14 February and receive a bonus $200 ‘Discover More Travel Credit’ per couple, which can be used on any Beyond Travel product.
Featured image: MSC Grandiosa is the first of three Meraviglia-Plus ships to join MSC Cruises’ fleet to be followed in 2020 by MSC Virtuosa and the LNG-powered World Class MSC Europa in 2022 (MSC Cruises)
Latest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.