Cunard announces Classic World Voyage on Queen Mary 2 for 2022

Cunard’s 2022 classic World Voyage on the Queen Mary 2 is now on sale.

The iconic ocean liner will make calls to Greece, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Australia and Bali, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Italy and Portugal. Sailings through the Suez Canal feature on both the outbound journey and return.

The 118-night voyage sets sail from New York on 3 January 2022 and returns on 1 May 2022.

Celebrity Edge virtual voyage

Celebrity Cruises invited agents aboard Celebrity Edge for a virtual voyage on Monday 7 September, 2020.

Accessed exclusively through the Celebrity Cruises Travel Partner Facebook Group, the 11 night Eastern Mediterranean cruise took agents on a virtual adventure through Italy, Turkey and the Greek Islands.

Aurora Expeditions webinar updates 

Aurora Expeditions head of sales for APAC, Dianna Schinella and her team will be sharing an exclusive preview of the line’s Arctic and Global 2022 program which will be going on sale at the end of October.

Agents can find out how to pre-register their clients on the new 2022 voyages before they go on sale to the public.

As well as new itineraries, the line will be sharing more information on its updated Health and Safety Protocol, and its new Deposit Protection program to ensure trade partners client’s feel confident in booking their future voyages.

Lastly, there will be an update on Aurora Expeditions second purpose-built expedition ship, the Sylvia Earle which is on track for delivery in October 2021.

Everyone who attends will receive a free coffee to enjoy after the webinar.

Date: Tuesday 15 September 2020

Times:

• Session 1: 10-11am AEST register HERE.

• Session 2: 4-5pm AEST register HERE.

Oceania Cruises upgrade sale 

Oceania Cruises is offering your clients the opportunity to make their voyage more memorable with a special free upgrade, of up to four stateroom categories, when booking select itineraries between 4 September and 15 September 2020.

Oceanwide Expeditions launches new series of how-to videos

Oceanwide’s new video series, The Expedition Guide, addresses some of the most essential topics of polar expedition travel, instructing both first-time and returning passengers on how to get the most out of their Arctic or Antarctic voyage.

Covered in these brief but informative videos are such topics as how to pack for a polar voyage, how to properly put on snowshoes, and how to maximize camera equipment for the best possible photos of polar terrain and wildlife.

Activists launch Global Cruise Activist Network calling for cruise industry changes

Community members from around the world have launched the Global Cruise Activist Network, a worldwide group of activists who are demanding the cruise industry doesn’t return to business as usual as cruise ships start sailing again after the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, 2 September, port communities worldwide — including in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Australia, Europe, and Scandinavia — as well as those who represent the concerns of cruise victims and cruise workers, hosted a virtual press conference to talk about the launch of the network, discussed the ways the cruise industry impacts their local communities and introduced a global set of guidelines called the “Principles of Responsible Cruise Tourism” they want companies to follow before cruise ships start sailing again.

Viking 2023 ocean cruises now on sale 

Viking has opened 2023 ocean cruises for sale to Scandinavia, The Mediterranean, Alaska, The Caribbean, South America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, to provide more choice and certainty for travellers to plan ahead.

Plus for a limited time, these future sailings are available at 2020 prices.

Deployment details have been revealed for five of Viking’s eight state-of-the-art 930-guest ocean ships for late 2022 and up to September 2023, including the brand-new Viking Venus, currently under construction ahead of her launch in 2021.

A-ROSA ships receive prestigious Green Award

Two A-ROSA River Cruises’ ships have received the esteemed Green Award.

A-ROSA AQUA and A-ROSA BRAVA underwent rigorous assessment, achieving particularly high scores in the safety and environmental protection categories.

Established in 1994, on a voluntary basis, the Green Award program encourages cleaner and safer maritime shipping. Since its inauguration, several ships and shipping companies from across the world achieved Green Award certification in the areas of quality, safety and the environment.

Effective 2011, the Green Award foundation developed a program for inland shipping, which has been a great success to date and is very popular with inland shipping companies. Criteria such as shore power connections and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment systems are considered to be of particular importance.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines reveals ‘back in the water’ plans + chance for six agents to win a cruise for two on new ships

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has revealed its plans to have three of the fleet ‘back in the water’ in March and April 2021, with Balmoral to sail even sooner.

Agents looking to book the new ships can do so from early September, with Bolette now on sale, and Borealis on sale Tuesday 15 September.

A return to the water date for Balmoral will be confirmed over the coming weeks, with plans underway to have this ship sailing first.

The line is also offering agents the chance to win one of six cruises for two on board the company’s new ships, Bolette and Borealis.

All you need to do to qualify is register every new booking made onto Fred. Olsen’s 2021, 2022 or 2023 cruise programmes, on any of the fleet – Balmoral, Braemar, Bolette or Borealis – between 1 September and 30 November 2020 inclusive.

Costa Cruises to restart cruise operations this weekend 

Two cruise line brands from Carnival Corporation have announced plans to resume sailing operations, with Italy-based Costa Cruises scheduled to restart sailing in Italy this Sunday, 6 September, followed by Germany-based AIDA Cruises scheduled to resume on 1 November.

Costa Cruises is restarting sailing with two initial ships departing from Italian ports beginning 6 September. Costa Deliziosa will offer weekly cruises from Trieste on 6, 13, 20 and 27 September, visiting five destinations in southern Italy, including Bari and Brindisi in Puglia, Corigliano-Rossano in Calabria, and Siracusa and Catania in Sicily. Costa Diadema will follow on 19 September from Genoa, calling at Italian ports in the western Mediterranean, including Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Palermo, Cagliari and La Spezia. The one-week itineraries are being reserved exclusively for Italian guests.

AIDA Cruises will resume its cruise operations with two of its ships, sailing from the Canary Islands in November 2020, followed by an additional two ships departing from the western Mediterranean and United Arab Emirates beginning in December 2020.

Meanwhile, the line has cancelled its 2020-21 season in South America.