Cruise
Royal Caribbean puts 9 in Europe
Royal Caribbean International is adding the Legend of the Seas and the Vision of the Seas to the fleet of ships it will have sailing in Europe in 2013. In all, Royal Caribbean will have a total of nine vessels operating European programs next year. The Legend of the Seas and Vision of the Seas augment the already announced U.K.-based Independence of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas; Barcelona-based Liberty of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas; and Italy-based Navigator of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas to offer a total of 276 sailings to 88 ports on 58...
Goway’s cruising in OZ
Goway has launched its first brochure dedicated to cruise travellers bound for Australia. The operator notes that selling cruise trip packages can be challenging for agents these days with the amount of non- commissionable elements, including airfares, shore excursions, etc. A strategy to improve selling cruises is by offering add-on services from land extensions, pre- or post-cruise accommodations or shore excursions in Australia, all of which are fully commissionable through Goway. Goway points out that travellers should spend time on land to see more of Australia and it offers many cruise...
Revitalized Millennium sets sail
The Celebrity Millennium set sail last week after completing completing Celebrity Cruises' "solsticizing" process which incorporates a host of the venue and experiences that cruise passengers enjoy on the line's Solstice Class ships. In all Celebrity Cruises has invested $140 million in less than two years to "solsticize" four of its Millennium class ships. Celebrity's president & CEO, Dan Hanrahan said: "Solsticizing has been such an exciting initiative for us, and more importantly, for our guests, as indicated by their response to each of our Solsticized ships. Our Millennium Class ships...
Thinking big at Vacation.com
Vacation.com hosted some 1,200 travel agents, suppliers and staff aboard Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas last week for its 14th International Conference & Trade Show. "Think Big" was the theme and Vacation.com Canada's Christine James said: "This year's conference sets the standard as the ultimate travel industry event ... Participation has exceeded expectations and with our action-packed seven days of education, entertainment and networking, it's no surprise we sold out early." This year's event marked Vacation.com's first-ever International Conference at sea and featured...
Costa doubling up in Asia
Costa Cruises plans to position a second cruise ship in Asia beginning in May 2013. Currently, the line operates the 2,394-passenger Costa Victoria in Asia and will start sailing from Shanghai May 18, 2012. The Costa Victoria replaces the 1,680-passenger Costa Classica, which has been repositioned to the Mediterranean. In May 2013 the 2,680-passenger Costa Atlantica will also be deployed in the region, giving Costa a combined total passenger capacity of 5,074 -- a 67% increase. With the debut of Costa Victoria in May 2012 and Costa Atlantica in May 2013, Costa Cruises will offer a unique...
ASTA praises new US tourism strategy
The National Travel and Tourism Strategy -- a newly announced initiative to stimulate domestic and international travel in order to create jobs and help rebuild the US economy -- is being praised by ASTA CEO Tony Gonchar for its "strong and decisive steps in making the United States the world's top global tourism destination."Gonchar was a participant in a high-level government-industry meeting May 10 at which the Strategy was presented by U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar just before its public release. "We commend President Obama and...
cruise3sixty conference sails to success
Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) 8th annual cruise3sixty conference and trade show, April 25-30 at the Broward Country Convention Center in Florida, proved to be a big success, registering more than 1,200 travel agent delegates from seven Canadian provinces, 42 US states and 13 other countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Australia. A record-breaking 3,144 participants attended the 18 CLIA professional development and training seminars, up from 1,365 when cruise3sixty was first established. The focus of the conference was the future of travel agents as CLIA,...
Bestselling authors hit the high seas with Silversea
Bestselling novelists Mary Higgins Clark and Lynne Truss are set to join an eclectic array of prominent guest speakers sailing aboard Silver Whisper's World Cruise in 2013, a 115-day journey from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, departing Jan. 5. Crossing the equator four times, the World Cruise itinerary will follow the tropical belt to 52 destinations in 28 countries with overnight stays in several key ports. The warm-weather journey will explore a realm of far-flung cultures and scenic wonders including New Zealand and Australia's remote west coast; the idyllic isles of French Polynesia;...