Cruise
MSC Is Back In The Med
MSC Cruises’ MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica will resume operations in the Mediterranean beginning Aug. 16 and Aug. 29, 2020 respectively, offering five different destinations during a seven-night cruise. The two ships will be the first to implement a new comprehensive health and safety protocol that has been approved by the relevant national authorities from the countries that the ships will call along their East and West Mediterranean itineraries this summer. Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ executive chairman said: “During the pause in our operations we focused on...
Silversea Extends ‘Cruise With Confidence’ Initiative
Silversea is extending its 'Cruise with Confidence' program to all voyages departing prior to April 30, 2021. The company credits the initiative for giving travellers the confidence to make future cruise plans with peace of mind. Launched in early March, the program lets guests cancel their cruise for any reason up to 48 hours prior to sailing and receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit for the amount paid, which can be redeemed up to two years from the date of issue. And as a demonstration of its ongoing support for travel advisors, when guests opt for the Future Cruise Credit and...
Silversea Enhances Online Travel Agent Tools
Silversea Cruises has enhanced its online suite of marketing resources and sales tools for travel advisors. Called Marketing Central, the revamped platform will enable travel advisors to grow their businesses, offering access to an expanded portfolio of tools that have been designed to make selling Silversea easier than ever. Enhanced for the US & Canada, UK & Ireland, and Australia & New Zealand markets, Silversea’s Marketing Central is being rolled out for the first time across Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The enhanced Marketing...
Crystal Unveils Crystal Clean+ Protocols
Crystal unveiled Crystal Clean+ -- its initial set of safety and health protocols to be implemented on Ocean ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony once they return to sailing. This set of Crystal Clean+ protocols is considered the 2.0 version – the initial expansion of Crystal’s already stringent health and safety policies – developed with the latest data from health experts to meet the unique challenges posed by COVID-19, and will be continually evaluated as new information becomes available. Crystal is committed to full compliance with the Centers for Disease...
Windstar Goes Digital With Small Ship Brochure
Windstar Cruises is going digital. The small ship cruise company has released its new Voyage Collection brochure, featuring sailings and cruise tours for 2021 through spring 2022, and it is 100% online. Brand-new itineraries include California and Baja’s Sea of Cortez, along with fresh options in the South Pacific, and Black Sea. Windstar is using the online piece to showcase the programs, shore excursions, and amenities, as well as the diverse destinations where Windstar sails. The much-anticipated transformation of three all-suite yachts, renamed the Star Plus Class (with...
For Cruising, It’s All About Safety, Safety, Safety
The CEO of Royal Caribbean International says the recent cases of coronavirus on two cruise ships (belonging to other cruise companies) amounts to a "learning experience" for his much larger company. Michael Bayley said during a Wednesday webinar that Royal Caribbean is studying "how and what happened" when a ship belonging to Hurtigruten --which has sailings along Norway's coast -- and the Paul Gauguin -- which offers Tahiti sailings -- found the virus aboard. The cases generated international attention and recalled cases earlier this year of cruise ships struggling with...
Cruising Pause Continues Through Oct. 31
In a statement issued today (Aug 5), that despite the alignment between its previous voluntary suspension to Sept. 15 and the CDC’s current No-Sail Order date of Sept. 30, the association believes that it is prudent at this time to voluntarily extend the suspension of U.S. ocean-going cruise operations to Oct. 31. CLIA notes in its statement that “this is a difficult decision as we recognize the crushing impact that this pandemic has had on our community and every other industry.” It continues that it believes “this proactive action further demonstrates the cruise...
New Ship On The Mekong For Viking
Viking will launch a new ship next summer for its Magnificent Mekong cruisetour. Currently under construction, the 80-guest Viking Saigon is scheduled to debut for the Aug. 30, 2021, cruisetour departure; the river cruise portion of the itinerary sails between Kampong Cham, Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, said: “For many of our guests, Vietnam and Cambodia remain top destinations because of their significance in world history. We have led the river cruise industry with our fleet development and experiences that bring travelers...