Cruise
Industry Reacts To Canadian Cruise Ban Extension
There is no doubt that Canada's travel industry has been shaken to its core by yesterday's (Feb. 4) announcement by the Canadian government that it was extending the ban on pleasure craft and cruise vessels in Canadian waters through to Feb. 28, 2022. The cruise ban extension completes a trifecta of bad and worse news for the industry and arrives hard on the heels of the introduction of PCR test requirements for all arriving passengers and the late January announcement that Canada's four major carriers were suspending flights to the Caribbean and Mexico until the end of April. It...
Immersive Experiences From Emerald Cruises In 2022
Emerald Cruises has released its 2022 European River Cruise Preview brochure in which it highlights its collection of river cruise itineraries and related land packages. Along with its classic collection of sailings along Europe’s rivers, Emerald Cruises is also offering an array of new immersive experiences for 2022 including an extended city stay in historic Amsterdam on a range of Rhine itineraries; a special, once-in-a-decade excursion to Amsterdam’s Floriade Horticulture Expo; and festive five-day Christmas market cruises on the Rhine, Danube and Rhône rivers. Guests...
HAL Names Timmers As Rotterdam Master
Holland America Line has named Werner Timmers, a captain with nearly 40 years sailing for the cruise line, to take the helm of Rotterdam when the ship enters service in July 2021. Captain Timmers joined Holland America Line in 1984 and has worked on all classes of ship within the brand, most recently as master of Koningsdam. In the coming months, Captain Timmers will head to Rotterdam for sea trials and then relocate to the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, where the ship is being built, to oversee the finishing touches before delivery. Gus Antorcha, president of Holland...
Canada Extends Cruise Ban To Feb 2022
Canada is extending its ban on pleasure craft and cruise vessels in Canadian waters through to Feb. 28, 2022. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced the details of two, new interim orders that prohibit pleasure craft in Canadian Arctic waters and cruise vessels in all Canadian waters until the end of February next year. The new orders mean that: Adventure-seeking pleasure craft are still prohibited from entering Arctic waters. Passenger vessels carrying more than 12 people are still prohibited from entering Arctic coastal waters, including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, and the...
ASQC, Victory Implement Vaccination Policy
American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) and Victory Cruise Lines (VCL) have announced a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for all guests that will go into effect for all sailings beginning July 1, 2021. Additionally, the vaccination requirement will apply to shipboard crew members and non-shipboard employees across all seven vessels in the AQSC and VCL fleets. Established by the operators, this latest protective measure expands upon the enhanced health and safety measures announced in 2020, which includes, but is not limited to, pre-cruise COVID-19 testing of all guests and crew...
MSC Cruises Welcomes MSC Virtuosa
MSC Cruises has taken delivery of MSC Virtuosa, the latest highly-innovative, environmentally-conscious ship to join its fleet. As tradition calls, a small and private flag ceremony was held at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France between the shipyard and MSC Cruises where MSC Virtuosa received her official flag and blessings for good fortune. The ceremony was attended in person by the company’s executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, his wife Alexa Aponte-Vago and their children as well as representatives from MSC Cruises new builds team along with executives and...
Sweet Savings With Holland America
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Holland America Line has a special promotion that offers those purchasing its gift cards an additional 10% bonus value. The promotion is in effect from now through Feb. 14, 2021. The bonus gift cards boost cruise values for travellers planning ahead as follows: Purchase $500 gift card, receive $50 bonus gift card = $550. Purchase $1000 gift card, receive $100 bonus gift card = $1,110. Purchase 2 x $1000 gift cards, receive $200 in bonus gift cards = $2,200. A Holland America Line gift card can be applied to any cruise booking in US...
Riviera River Cruises Loves Travel Advisors
Riviera River Cruises is showing its love for travel advisors this month. During February, as part of the cruise company’s “We Love Travel Advisors” promotion, travel advisors will receive a $100 gift card for each new booking of a cabin on a 2021 or 2022 European river cruise. The gift card promotion can be combined with Wave Season incentives for onboard credits of up to €400 per cabin booked and savings of up to $2,500 per cabin booked. Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ executive vice president sales and marketing North America, said: “At Riviera, we love...