Cruise
Cruising With Sunwing
Sunwing is encouraging travellers to set sail with Marella Cruises (formerly known as TUI Cruises) with value-added cruise packages on board the Marella Discovery 2. While the ship may have a new name, officials say passengers can look forward to the same friendly and attentive service enjoyed on TUI Discovery 2, along with all their favourite inclusions and itineraries. Those booking by Nov. 3 can take advantage of Sunwing’s Price Drop Guarantee promotion, where money back is guaranteed should the price of the vacation drop. Cruise packages from Toronto and Vancouver coincide...
Japan Cruising in Spotlight at YVR event
The growing number of opportunities to spend a holiday in Japan onboard a cruise ship were reviewed during a dinner event in Vancouver hosted by Marco Polo Tours, Air Canada and the Japan National Tourism Organization. Travel professionals, supplier partners and their clients gathered for the presentation at the Hyatt Regency. Reps from four cruise ship lines attended the evening event and were given time slots in which to describe services and cruise itineraries. These included NCL, MSC, RCI and Princess. The Diamond Princess, for example, has been reinvented for the Japanese...
Ensemble, Carnival Launch Preferred Partnership
Ensemble Travel Group and Carnival Cruise Line have launched a new multi-year preferred supplier partnership designed to expand Carnival’s distribution channel in the Canadian and US agency markets and boost Ensemble members’ cruise business in the popular contemporary sector. The announcement was shared with Ensemble owners and managers by co-presidents Libbie Rice (pictured left) and Lindsay Pearlman (right) during a private session of the organization’s 2017 Ensemble Travel Group International Conference in Dallas. Rice said the timing was right on several fronts to...
U by Uniworld’s ‘The B’ Sets Sail
U by Uniworld, the new river cruise brand for 21-45-year-olds, debuted its first ship Oct. 7 in Paris, France. The B set sail on its maiden voyage along the Seine River with top influencers with a combined reach of nearly 10 million, lifestyle media, travel agents and contest winners onboard to get an exclusive “Sneak Peek” of the first-ever river cruise brand for millennials. After its successful inaugural sailing of The B, U by Uniworld also announced expansion plans. The brand has set its sights on the Mekong River in Asia for a third ship, with plans for a fourth ship to...
Royal Caribbean Set For St. Thomas Return
Royal Caribbean has set the date for its return to St. Thomas since the Caribbean destination was impacted by the hurricanes last month. On Nov. 10, the cruise line will make its way to St. Thomas for the first time since early September with Adventure of the Seas. In partnership with the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Royal Caribbean also has committed to undertaking the complete restoration of Magens Bay, one of St. Thomas’ most popular tourist attractions – with plans for a grand re-opening of the pristine destination during Adventure of the Seas’ visit on Nov....
Carnival ‘Amps Up’ The Commission
Expanding on its “AMP Up Commission Challenge” in September, Carnival Cruise Line is giving travel agencies a new opportunity to earn higher commission percentages in 2018 with its new “AMP Up Commission Program.” The program gives agencies the ability to increase their commission rate up to 15% based on active deposited bookings made from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2018. Qualifying agents who reach booking goals during this window will earn increased commissions on new bookings made April 1 to Dec. 31, 2018. Registration for the program is open through Nov. 12 on GoCCL.com. “We...
Celebrity to Offer Legal Same-Sex Marriages
Celebrity Cruises reports that same-sex marriages performed onboard are now legally recognized, marking a historic first for the brand. The motion follows a transformative vote in Malta, where a majority of the Celebrity fleet is registered, which passed the country’s parliament 66-1. The long-awaited referendum opens the door for Celebrity to legally recognize same-sex marriages performed onboard, and have the fleet’s captains officiate the ceremonies. “Celebrity Cruises has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community and I cannot think of a more important time in our...
Carnival Gives Agents a Chance to Win $10,000
Carnival Cruise Line is giving travel agents an opportunity to win $10,000, cruises and inaugural celebrations aboard the new Carnival Horizon, gift cards valued at $250, as well as branded “Travel Agents Rock” prizes as part of its new “Keep on Rockin” sweepstakes, which runs through Nov. 5. Each week, Carnival will ask agents to demonstrate how they “Keep on Rockin” as travel agents with a question shared on Vice-President of Sales & Trade Marketing Adolfo Perez’s Facebook page. The contest is designed for agents to showcase unique best practices and professional...