Cruise
Virgin Voyages Has Big Plans For First Mates
Virgin Voyages First Mates have certainly been soaking up all the cruise line has to offer, including competitive commissions, no NCFs and events designed around the travel agent community. On the heels of its new LetsGoBook reservations platform -- an advisor-friendly interface created to streamline the booking process -- Virgin Voyages is announcing its first-ever First Mate Spectacular Soiree and the launch of its Golden Ink Awards. The top 100 North American First Mates with the most bookings between Nov. 1, 2021 -- Oct. 31, 2022 will be invited to pack their chicest nautical...
Costa Cruises Says ‘Ciao’ To Fall
Costa Cruises North America is sailing into autumn with cruises starting at $499 per person, double occupancy, on select Mediterranean, northern Europe and Caribbean itineraries. Costa’s Fall Sale promotion features savings of up to $800 per cabin when booked by Oct. 31, 2022. With the Fall Sale event, guests can book their next adventure from featured cruises departing November 2022 through December 2023. Port departures include Amsterdam, Netherlands; Barcelona, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey; Kiel, Germany; and Bari, Genoa, Marghera (Venice), Savona and Rome, Italy; as well as...
Avalon Waterways, ACTA Partner For 2023 Summit
Avalon Waterways and ACTA are partnering to set sail on an inaugural River Cruise Summit for 100 travel advisors in October 2023. This special event and custom, travel advisor-only cruise will set sail in Amsterdam. Throughout the seven-day “Romantic Rhine” itinerary, travel advisors will not only have the chance to experience the Avalon difference on ships, they will also have the opportunity to curate their curiosities and immerse themselves in the world around them with a choice of “Classic,” “Discovery” and “Active” excursions. Travel advisors will also partake...
Volendam Completes Rotterdam Charter
Holland America Line’s Volendam departed Rotterdam this week after the completion of a charter with the city and the government of the Netherlands that began in April. For the past six months, the ship has been home to families from Ukraine who fled the war there. Over the past several weeks, the families have been resettling with relatives or moving to more permanent accommodations in the Netherlands. Volendam is now headed for Trieste, Italy, where the ship will board guests Sept. 24 and depart on a 14-day Holy Land & Ancient Kingdoms Explorer cruise – its first full...
Carnival Celebration Completes Sea Trials
Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Celebration, is one more milestone closer to its highly-anticipated debut in its homeport of PortMiami after successfully completing sea trials in the Baltic Sea. Carnival Celebration set sail on its first round of sea trials Sept. 5 from Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, the same shipyard where Celebration’s sister ship, Mardi Gras, was built. Carnival Celebration had a full contingent of officers, technicians and engineers on board to thoroughly test the ship’s technical, mechanical and navigational systems. The ship’s arrival...
Anyone For Green Eggs And Ham?
For the first time since the pause in guest operations, Carnival Cruise Line will officially bring back its Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in The Hat and Friends across its fleet on sailings beginning Oct. 1. The breakfast is part of the many exciting experiences in Carnival’s Seuss at Sea program, the line’s exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Guests are encouraged to pack their imagination, as well as their appetites, as the whole family embarks on a breakfast that’s part meal and part journey into the deliciously whimsical world of Dr....
Avalon Waterways Plans Douro Debut With New Suite Ship
Avalon Waterways will make its Douro debut with a new itinerary and Suite Ship – the Avalon Alegria – in 2024. Embarking on its first-ever sailings in Portugal, Avalon Waterways is poised to offer a new view of the Old World. Pam Hoffee, president of Avalon Waterways, said: “We’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to add Portugal to our robust vacation portfolio and that day has finally arrived.” Hoffee said: “Inviting our guests to sail the Douro for the first time, we’re bringing the Suite Ships of Avalon, the grandest views in cruising and whim-powered...
MSC Cruises Puts MICE Business On The Itinerary
MSC Cruises wants MICE. The cruise line is spearheading a new campaign with travel agents to attract meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) business for its winter 2022-2023 season and into summer 2023 by highlighting the advantages of ships as a better venue than hotels or resorts. MSC’s initiative comes in response to requests from agents, multinational companies and event agencies who have all seen an upturn in demand for MICE business following the effects on the sector during 2020 and 2021 because of the global pandemic. The company’s commercial teams in...