Cruise
NCLH Extends Suspension Of Voyages
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. -- which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands – has announced an extension of its previously announced suspension of global cruise voyages to include all voyages embarking between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, 2020 for its three cruise brands. In an effort to provide additional transparency, beginning in August, the company plans to provide an update at the end of each month regarding the status of voyage suspensions, including any potential extensions. As well, the company recently announced a...
Celestyal Adds Costa Ship To Its Fleet
Celestyal Cruises has added the Costa NeoRomantica from Costa Cruises to its fleet. Built in 1993 and extensively refurbished in 2012, the 1,800-guest ship has 789 cabins, 132 of which feature balconies, as well as a variety of dining and entertainment venues, bars and lounges, two pools, a gym and a panoramic spa. Celestyal Cruises’ CEO, Chris Theophilides, said: “While Covid-19 has brought a temporary pause to our operations, it is important that we look to the future with optimism and continue to deliver on our strategic plan to grow the business and enhance the award winning...
UNWTO Counts The Cost Of Travel Standstill
In newly released data, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reveals that up to May of this year, the cost of COVID-19 on international tourism was already three times that of the 2009 Global Economic Crisis. As the situation continues to evolve, the United Nations specialized agency has provided the first comprehensive insight into the impact of the pandemic, both in tourist numbers and lost revenues, ahead of the upcoming release of up-to-date information on travel restrictions worldwide. In the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, data shows that the...
Royal Caribbean Group Reinvents Safety Drill
Royal Caribbean Group is replacing one of the least-loved but most important parts of a cruise vacation – the safety drill – with Muster 2.0, an entirely new approach to delivering safety information to guests. The innovative program, the first of its kind, reimagines a process originally designed for large groups of people into a faster, more personal approach that encourages higher levels of safety. With Muster 2.0, the key elements of the safety drill – including reviewing what to expect and where to go in case of an emergency, and instructions on how to properly use a life...
Carnival Continues To Make Changes
Carnival Cruise Line has released details of new plans for its fleet that will generate tremendous guest excitement once it resumes sailing, with a confirmed date for an additional Excel-class, LNG-powered ship arriving in November 2022, four ships either sold or put on long term lay-up status, and other ships redeployed to new homeports, as it seeks to leverage its strong network of year-round and seasonal homeports in the U.S. with upgraded offerings. The highlights of the plan include: * As part of Carnival’s 50th birthday in 2022, a November 2022 delivery date for the...
Set Sail And Discover The World With Viking
Viking has unveiled details of its new 2021-2022 Viking World Cruise, which will span 136 days, 27 countries and 56 ports, with overnight stays in 11 iconic cities. Setting sail on December 24, 2021, from Fort Lauderdale, the itinerary will include three new ports of call for Viking, including Phillip Island and Eden, Australia, as well as Yangon, Myanmar. Sailing on Viking’s Viking Star, the voyage will explore ports of call in Central America; transit through the Panama Canal; journey up the West Coast of North America before crossing the Pacific Ocean and calling upon Hawaii;...
TIABC Seeking $680 Million Recovery Stimulus Package
The Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia, along with a coalition of dozens of sector associations representing British Columbia’s more than 19,000 tourism and hospitality businesses, have presented the provincial government with a recovery stimulus proposal that would see the government allocate $680 million from its $1.5 billion recovery package as an initial investment to help mitigate the unprecedented impacts of COVID-19 on the B.C. visitor economy and its workforce. TIABC points out in its request that in 2018 (latest statistics available), the tourism and...
Riviera River Cruises Has An Offer For Agents
Riviera River Cruises is offering agents an incentive for new bookings on holiday season cruises departing in December 2020. Agents can receive a gift card valued at up to $250 for each cabin or suite booked on Riviera’s Yuletide Markets, Christmas and New Year’s cruises on Europe’s Danube and Rhine Rivers. The incentive can be combined with all other Riviera promotions, meaning advisors and their clients can both benefit. Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ executive vice president sales and marketing North America, said: “It may be summer now, but at Riviera River...