What do you get when you cross a deal with a major ship refurbishment, a conference and some hip new tech? A cruise wrap!

Silversea announcements: general sale on brand new summer 2020 to 2021 itineraries, Silver Shadow to undergo major refurbishment in 2019

Silversea Cruises has opened general sales on 54 remarkable new itineraries for summer 2020 to 2021.

Offering guests an increased range of unique destinations for the summer season, the new collection of voyages will include 20 maiden calls. It incorporates experiences in the Caribbean, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and South America.

Comprising the winter itineraries of Silver Muse, Silver Whisper, Silver Shadow, Silver Spirit and Silver Moon ­­­(the ultra-luxury sister ship to Silver Muse, due to join the fleet in August 2020), the new collection of voyages will showcase the Caribbean, springtime in Asia, and the best of both Australia and South America on respective circumnavigations.

Simplifying guests’ journeys, travellers will enjoy included round-trip economy class flights, or reduced business class upgrades, and transfers on virtually all voyages in the new collection (exceptions and market-specific conditions may apply).

View the new summer 2020/2021 itineraries here.

Silversea has also announced its vessel the Silver Shadow will undergo a major refurbishment in November this year.

The renovation will include the creation of a new atrium area on deck five and major enhancements to all guest suites, corridors, and many public spaces, including a remodelling of the ship’s La Dame restaurant, Connoisseur’s Corner, and the casino.

Australis Patagonia: Kids sail for free in December

During December 2019, Australis Patagonia Cruises will help parents enjoy its all-inclusive Patagonia cruises with their little ones, with kids sailing for free on bookings made before 31 May 2019. Based on two children, two adults travelling, that’s a saving of up to $6,500 on a family trip to Patagonia.

As the only cruise line operating in this area, Australis offers guests exclusive access to the untouched fjords of Patagonia. The four-night cruises connect the two southern-most towns in the world (Ushuaia in Argentina and Punta Arenas in Chile, or vice versa).

The two ships, Stella Australis and Ventus Australis, navigate legendary maritime channels of early explorers such as the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, exploring breathtaking scenery of imposing mountain ranges, majestic glaciers, lush sub-polar forests and even reaching the ‘end of the world’ at Cape Horn.

Enjoy free three-night Seoul stopover with Ecruising Travel

This October 2019 journey through Asia with Ecruising’s 18-night ‘Seoul Stopover: Southern Islands Explorer’ voyage. The itinerary showcases Asia, journeying through Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, with a bonus three-night stopover in Seoul.

Priced from just $3589 per person twin-share for a limited time, Ecruising’s 18-night Seoul Stopover: Southern Islands Explorer journey includes return economy airfares, all accommodation and transfers and tours as per itinerary.

For more information, click here.

Windstar announces ‘All-In Package’ for hundreds of cruises worldwide

Windstar Cruises is offering a new inclusive on-board package, with guests who purchase Windstar’s new ‘All-In Package’ to receive unlimited Wi-Fi access, unlimited laundry service, hotel and beverage gratuities.

Guests will also receive the Captain’s Exclusive Beverage Package, featuring all wines by the glass, all beer selections, all mini-bar beverages, and a broad assortment of cocktails for $131 per person, per day.

Guests will save an estimated $39 per person, per day when booking the All-In Package versus separately paying for the various services and amenities. Unbundled, these additional amenities total approximately $170 per guest, per day, including the beverage package typically priced at $86.80 per guest, per day.

Film critic David Stratton leads Travelrite’s 2020 Film Festival at Sea

Led by former co-presenter of ABC TV’s At The Movies, David Stratton, Travelrite International is offering a unique Film Festival at Sea, where guests will cruise the southern South American coastline to Antarctica.

This 20-day tour runs from 16 January to 4 February 2020, mainly aboard luxury cruise ship Celebrity Eclipse as Stratton screens and comments on some of his favourite films.

This tour will take guests to Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Stanley, Cape Horn, Ushuaia, and Antarctic Sound. Passengers will cruise past the mountains of Ushuaia, Antarctic icebergs and ice-covered mountains, and Elephant Island.

There are also added tours available, including a pre-cruise tour of Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro on 11 to 16 January 2020, and a post-cruise tour of Cusco and Machu Picchu on 2 to 9 February 2020.

For more information, click here.

Crystal Cruises and chef Nobu Matsuhisa celebrate 16-year partnership

Crystal Cruises is celebrating its 16th year in partnership with chef Nobu Matsuhisa, which began in 2003 aboard the Crystal Serenity.

Crystal marked its celebration in Melbourne, last week, when executives from its North American headquarters and Australasia corporate office teamed up with master chef Nobu Matsuhisa to welcome luxury travel advisors for a celebratory dinner.

The event was held on the eve of this year’s Virtuoso Symposium in Melbourne, attended by Travel Weekly, where top member travel advisors and agencies have come together to discuss the world’s greatest travel experiences and coming trends.

Coral Expeditions’ new vessel arrives home in Australian waters

Over the weekend, Australian cruise line Coral Expeditions welcomed its new flagship Coral Adventurer into home waters for the first time.

The state-of-the-art expedition ship arrived into Fort Hill Wharf, Darwin after completing her 18-day maiden voyage ‘In the Trail of Tasman’, retracing the historic explorations of Dutch explorer Abel Tasman around the Indonesian archipelago from Singapore.

The Coral Adventurer was officially welcomed by Northern Territory Minister Lauren Moss, national media and travel trade partners who gathered to commemorate this historic moment in the company’s history and signal the beginning of a new era of growth for the Australian marine industry.

Speakers announced for Australian Cruise Association annual conference

A strong speaker line-up has been confirmed for the 23rd annual Australian Cruise Association Conference (ACA) and AGM being held from 4 to 6 September in Geelong, Victoria.

Melissa Witsoe

In recognition of the important role regional destinations play in the continued growth of Australia’s cruise industry, this will be the third year that the ACA has held the event outside a major metropolitan centre.

Speakers at the event include: Melissa Witsoe, product manager for Windstar Cruises in Seattle; Adam Armstrong, managing director of Silversea Cruises in Australia and New Zealand; Captain Nikolaos Antalis, association vice president marine and safety for Royal Caribbean International (APAC); and assistant professor Anne Hardy from the University of Tasmania.

Micro-Cruising announces new online booking tool

Micro-Cruising has announced the launch of its new online booking tool (OBT), allowing agents to book online, small ship cruising products

The worldwide product will be loaded in stages, with Croatia launched initially. The OBT allows agents to access the most up to date availability, rates and discounts in different currencies.

Agents are not required to log-in to make a booking, with the OBT’s home-page filter allowing agents to find their clients’ trip, with gross rates shown on the front end – ready for agents to book.

For more information, click here.

A-ROSA: E-Motion ship to bring all the amenities of a hotel to river cruising

Featuring battery propulsion and air bubbles technology for clean cities and unpolluted rivers, as well as offering the space of a land-based hotel, the A-ROSA E-Motion ship aims to introduce a new era of river-boat travel.

With a width of 17.7 metres and a fourth deck, the ship is presented as extremely spacious. All standard cabins are generously sized and feature a balcony, and there is a dedicated family area with a kids’ club and sun deck with separate adults’ and children’s pools.