Cruise
More Canadian Operators Weigh In On Extended Cruise Ban
In the wake of the introduction of PCR test requirements for all arriving passengers and the announcement that Canada’s major carriers were suspending flights to the Caribbean and Mexico, the travel industry was dealt another blow with the ban on pleasure craft and cruise vessels in Canadian waters officially extended until Feb. 28, 2022. While Adventure Canada, which leads small-ship expeditions in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, was bracing for an extension, CEO Cedar Swan says it didn’t anticipate the length of the ban. “We have approached the summer of 2021 with...
Riviera River Cruises Extends Programs
Riviera River Cruises is extending its flexible customer care policies and its onboard credit promotion through March 31, 2021, to help travel advisors secure additional new bookings for 2021 and 2022 European river cruises. The company’s flexible customer care policies include free changes to new bookings, COVID-19 Cancellation Protection and a happiness guarantee. The onboard credit promotion provides travelers up to €400 in credit per cabin for use on drinks in the lounge and restaurants, spa or salon treatments, souvenirs from the boutique or even gratuities. Marilyn...
Sailing With Experience
With a history that spans close to 150 years, it’s not surprising that Holland America Line has a history that a depth of talented crew who will be aboard Rotterdam when the ship is delivered in July. The cruise line has appointed Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert, Hotel Director Wessel van Oorschot, Chief Engineer Peter Massolt, Staff Chief Engineer Wim Akkerman and Environmental Officer Michael Brown to lead Rotterdam’s shipboard teams. The cruise line had previously announced that Captain Werner Timmers will be at the helm of Rotterdam. The 99,500-ton ship currently is under...
Scenic Group Enhances Senior Management
Scenic Group has added to its senior management, with two new hires and a key appointment. Vitor Alves joins Scenic Group as its Director Hotel Operations - Ocean, while Sepp Dendl will oversee the rivers as Director Hotel Operations - River, and Yordan Yordanov has come aboard in the position of Director of Technical River and Ocean Operations. The three senior management positions add to Scenic Group’s global reach and serve to enhance the operations of its state of the art fleet, covering Emerald Cruises, Scenic and Scenic Eclipse. All three report directly to Benny...
G Adventures Sets Sail With A Nautical Theme
G Adventures is setting sail with a nautical theme, launching an initiative that features 15% off marine trips booked throughout February; a training webinar to support partners when selling water-based adventures; and the opportunity for one lucky agent to win a space on a Sailing St Lucia & the Grenadines sailing itinerary. And to provide even more incentive to get onboard, the small group adventure operator is also offering agents a bonus 2% commission on all new bookings made during the month of February as part of its G-Normous agent incentive. Itineraries with 15% off include...
Globus Makes Vaccine Checks, COVID Tests Mandatory
Beginning in April, the Globus family of brands will require its travellers to have proof of COVID-19 vaccines, a negative test result or virus immunity in order to join its tours, river cruises and independent vacation packages in North America and abroad. “The health and safety of our travellers is our No. 1 priority,” said Stéphanie Bishop, managing director of the Globus family of brands – which includes Globus, Cosmos, Avalon Waterways and Monograms. Bishop continued: “In addition to unveiling new pre-trip requirements today, we have continued to enhance on-trip safety...
Insights On Emerging Trends From Silversea
Let's look ahead, shall we. And in looking ahead, consider some predictions -- based on guest interest -- coming from Silversea's destination experts, who identified popular travel trends for 2022-2023 and highlighed those destinations that are attracting travellers with the recommencement of sailing. Silversea Cruises is charting a course to some of what travellers and their own destination experts believe will be the trendsetting regions to visit in 2022 and 2023. Popular sailing regions include the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, Antarctica, the Galápagos Islands, and...
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...