Cruise
Carnival’s ‘AMP Up Commission Challenge’ Is Back
Just in time for Wave Season, travel agents who want to take their earning potential to the next level can opt-in to Carnival Cruise Line’s 2019 “AMP Up Commission Challenge” to qualify for higher commission rates. The program offers agents the ability to increase their commissions up to 15% following a booking qualification period from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2019. Agencies who reach set booking goals during this window will earn the increased commissions on new Carnival Cruise Line bookings made from April 1 and December 2019. Registration for the program is open now and runs...
NCL Gets ‘Kinky’ At Sea
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) held a keel laying ceremony for Norwegian Encore this week and unveiled the entertainment line-up and recreational amenities scheduled for the ship’s fall 2019 debut. Following the major construction milestone and maritime tradition of embedding a “commemorative coin” within the keel blocks of the ship, attendees were treated to an unexpected presentation. Four performers appeared in extravagant costume provided a surprise performance from “Kinky Boots,” confirming the Tony Award-winning musical as the headlining act on Norwegian...
TL Network Canada Honours 2018 Elite Members
TL Network Canada celebrated its 2018 Elite Members with a special river cruise from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland this month aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaPrima. Elite membership is awarded each year to 30 agencies among Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Members who are the top sellers and leading supporters of preferred supplier partners. “We are proud to honour these agency owners for the outstanding success they have achieved,” said Christine James, TL Network’s vice-president Canada. “These recognition journeys wouldn’t be possible without support and...
HAL Takes Delivery of Nieuw Statendam
Holland America Line (HAL) took delivery of Nieuw Statendam yesterday (Nov. 29), officially making it the 15th ship in the fleet. A hand-over ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Marghera, Italy, shipyard, and Nieuw Statendam set sail for Venice today en route to Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, for its Premiere Voyage with guests departing Dec. 5. “Today the Holland America Line family celebrates the addition of Nieuw Statendam to our fleet, and it’s a proud moment for everyone involved,” said HAL president Orlando Ashford. “Thank you to our partners at Fincantieri and our...
On The Edge With Celebrity
PressToday's Greg Coates was among the first passengers aboard Celebrity Cruises' iconic new flagship, the Edge, this week as Celebrity hosted travel trade personnel from around the world for a first look at the new ship during a two-night sailing out of Fort Lauderdale. The ship was clearly a hit as adjectives like “stylish” and “sophisticated” flew around the dinner tables. It could be said that Edge is understated, but still has a significant “wow factor.” As Celebrity president Lisa Lutoff-Perlo noted, “we wanted to make people feel comfortable, yet...
Craighead Appointed CLIA President, CEO
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has appointed Kelly Craighead as president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1. Craighead takes over the role currently held by Cindy D'Aoust, who in July of this year announced her intent to leave the position by year’s end. Craighead has spent over 15 years in the public and private sectors, recently serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism in the U.S. Department of Commerce where she advanced travel and tourism priorities within the Administration and with Congress. As the first Executive Director of...
Celebrity Introduces Edge Access Tour App
Celebrity Edge represents a monumental leap in cruise ship design and innovation, and now, Celebrity Cruises is introducing its most technologically advanced ship in the most technologically advanced way – with the launch of the Celebrity Edge Access Tour app. Narrated with insights by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. chairman and CEO, Richard Fain, and Celebrity president and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, the tour uses binaural audio, soundscaping and 3-D augmented reality technology to give guests ultimate behind-the-scenes access to the story of this groundbreaking new ship. “This is...
Princess Unveils 2020 Alaska Cruise Season
Princess Cruises has unveiled its 2020 Alaska season with cruises and cruisetours now on sale. The season features eight ships offering 11 cruise-only itineraries, plus 25 cruisetour itineraries, giving guests the bucket-list opportunity to see the top two attractions in Alaska – Glacier Bay National Park, with up-close glacier viewing, and Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest mountain peak. Highlights of the 2020 Princess Cruises Alaska season that runs from May through September include: Golden Princess debuts a full season of 14-day Inside Passage...