Cruise
HAL Expands Agent Specialist Training
In the most recent installment of Holland America Line’s (HAL) Specialist Training Courses, travel agents can learn the ins and outs of “Selling and Sailing in the Mediterranean.” The Holland America Line Academy designed the online courses to help agents increase their cruise sales by giving insider tips, tricks and tools centred around a specific destination. Agents can access “Selling and Sailing in the Mediterranean” through HALacademy.com. “The Mediterranean is one of the most diverse and intricate regions we offer, so it’s important to provide our travel partners...
Emerald Offers Cruisers Free Air
Emerald Waterways is kicking off the new year with a free air deal on 2017 sailings. All guests booking a Balcony Suite, including Panorama Balcony Suite, Riverview Suite, Grand Balcony Suite and Owner’s One Bedroom Suite, on any 2017 Europe river cruise itinerary will get free round-trip airfare from major Canadian and US gateways. Travellers booking a stateroom cabin category on a Europe itinerary will be eligible for a reduced airfare rate of $795 p.p. Guests wishing to book their own air will receive $1,000 air credit in lieu of flights ($600 for guests booking staterooms)....
Virtual At-Sea Concierge On The Way
Princess Cruises is set to enhance the guest cruise experience with new wearable technology – the Ocean Medallion – a virtual concierge that can do everything from open a stateroom door to delivering food to any part of the ship to suggesting and booking shore excursions. The medallion itself is a small disk that can be worn around the wrist like a watch or around the neck like a pendant. Guests can also simply carry them in their pockets. Princess Cruises will be the first Carnival Corporation brand to feature the new Ocean Medallion, powered by an interactive technology...
Silver Whisper Sails Into 2017 With New Look
Silversea Cruises has completed a major renovation of Silver Whisper, in time for the all-suite ship to host World Cruise 2017, an exclusive 116-day voyage from San Francisco to Monte Carlo departing on Jan. 6. The reimagined ship features an array of enhancements from elegant new carpeting in all the guest suites to new wall treatments and rejuvenated wood flooring in the restaurants, Connoisseur's Corner, Panorama Lounge, Spa and Beauty Salon. The Restaurant and La Terrazza have also been outfitted with newly upholstered chairs. A new marble-topped bar and new wood display cases...
Agents Predict Strong Year Ahead for Cruise Travel
It's all good news in the Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) fourth – and final – Travel Agent Cruise Industry Outlook Report for 2016. The report, which tracks key cruise travel trends along with providing insight into the current state of the travel agent industry, revealed that: Travel agent sales remain strong; overall cruise spending is growing; and agents are influencing advance cruise bookings. CLIA president, Cindy D'Aoust said that, “The Travel Agent Cruise Industry Outlook report allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of the cruise industry as a whole...
Le Boat Sets Sights on the Rideau Canal
Le Boat, Europe’s largest self-drive boating company, is poised to become a global brand with the launch of the company’s first North American base of operations in 2018 on Ontario’s historic Rideau Canal. The Rideau Canal, which opened in 1832, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Canadian National Historic Site as well as a Canadian Heritage river. It is 202kms long with 47 locks and is the oldest continuously operating canal in North America. Le Boat will invest $16 million in Le Boat base infrastructure that includes the length of the canal from Ottawa to Kingston. It will...
Princess Unveils Re-imagined Youth Centres
Princess Cruises, in partnership with Discovery Consumer Products (the licensing arm of Discovery Communications) has plans to expand its Discovery at Sea partnership with re-imagined youth centres to help young Princess explorers learn, play and create fun memorable memories while on a cruise vacation. This multi-million investment is currently rolling out fleet-wide through 2018, with program implementation taking place in early 2017 and new centre designs planned for installation during scheduled ship renovations. “As part of our Come Back New promise, we are recommitting to...
Celebrity Launches Agent Loyalty Program
Celebrity Cruises is showing its appreciation to travel agents with the introduction of North America's first-ever trade loyalty program for the cruise industry – Celebrity Rewards. Through the incentive program, Celebrity invites in Canada and the US to receive rewards for every qualified booking – resulting in what officials call “limitless earning potential.” Agents who enroll in the program and register their Celebrity bookings can earn points which can be redeemed for a reloadable gift card. For every qualified booking made on or after Jan. 1, agents will receive 500...