Cruise
Royal Princess in the record books
Princess Cruises had the biggest booking day in its history last week for a new ship's inaugural season with the anticipated debut of Royal Princess. Opening the books on its 2013 Mediterranean season on March 15, sales for the new Royal Princess reached an all-time record for the most bookings of any ship's maiden season voyages. The ship's 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises between Barcelona and Venice begin on June 23, 2013. Preceding these cruises, Royal Princess sails on its inaugural voyage, a seven-day Iberia cruise from Southampton to Barcelona departing June 16. The 3,600-passenger...
CLIA supports enhanced reporting requirements
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is recommending enhancements to regulations about the reporting of casualties at sea, as part of the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review launched by CLIA and its member lines immediately following the Concordia incident. Specifically, CLIA is recommending that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) expressly and more clearly require flag states to report all "very serious marine casualties."Very serious marine casualties are defined by the IMO and include any marine casualty resulting in a passenger or crewmember fatality, the...
Monarch of the Seas sailing over to Pullmantur
Royal Caribbean Cruises has announced the transfer of Monarch of the Seas from its Royal Caribbean International cruise brand to its Pullmantur brand, a cruise and tour operator based in Madrid, Spain. Monarch of the Seas will transfer to Pullmantur on April 1, 2013 following its last sailing for Royal Caribbean, which departs on March 29, 2013. With the incorporation of Monarch of the Seas, Pullmantur will increase its total guest capacity by nearly 25% and meet a rising demand for the brand's distinctive All Inclusive-style cruise holidays....
GLP previews 2013 AMA Waterways brochure
GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel and Tours, the Canadian representative for AMA Waterways, has introduced a preview 2013 AMA Waterways 64-page brochure highlighting Europe, Russia, Africa, Vietnam and Cambodia cruises and land packages. The program features a number of new and revised itineraries. And, agents have the opportunity to earn $50 gift cards for just one booking or earn a free iPad after five bookings (10 passengers in total) are booked. Two of the line's new cruises are: Enticing Douro, 10 nights, cruise only price from $2,199 p.p., based on double occupancy; and Jewels of France,...
Avalon to expand ‘suite’ fleet
Cruising with Avalon Waterways is about to get even more "suite"as it unveils two more Suite Ships next year -- the Avalon Expression and Avalon Artistry II -- bringing the fleet's Suite Ship class vessels total to five. The five new Suite Ships boast two full decks of suites - 18-square-metre Panorama Suites (293 total) and 27-square-metre Royal Suites (10 total). Each suite on all five of Avalon's Suite Ships features a large seating area that is perfect for quiet moments alone, while spacious being enough to host a private cocktail party with new friends. It sits adjacent to a Wall-to-Wall...
Silversea names president for the Americas
Silversea Cruises has announced the appointment of Ellen Bettridge as president of the Americas. She will head the company's Fort Lauderdale office. Bettridge, whose appointment becomes effective April 9, will join Silversea with an extensive background in the retail travel industry. Most recently, she served as vice-president of the American Express U.S. Retail Travel Network. Over the course of her 20 years with American Express, she served as a travel counsellor, account development executive, field performance manager for the eastern region in corporate services, and director of account...
Independence returning to America
Independence of the Seas is returning to America. Royal Caribbean International is bringing the Freedom-class ship back to Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale for the winter 2012-13 season. Travellers will have a choice of three Freedom-class ships offering a variety of Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, conveniently sailing from Port Canaveral (on Florida's Space Coast) aboard Freedom of the Seas and Port Everglades aboard Independence of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. Independence will depart on its transatlantic voyage from Southampton, U.K. on Nov. 22 and homeport at Port...
CLIA executives address industry issues
The top executives of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) spoke to delegates gathered at Cruise Shipping Miami last week, offering their views on cruising's safety record and policies, as well as the industry's prospects and commitment to growth in the coming months and years. Howard Frank, vice-chairman of Carnival Corporation & plc and chairman of CLIA, said, in reference to the Costa Concordia tragedy, "As a cruise ship operator, there is nothing more heart-wrenching than the loss of one of your passengers or crew members and on behalf of the entire Carnival Corporation & plc...