Cruise
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...
New Film Showcases Cunard Experience
Cunard has unveiled a new film to support its 2017 booking campaign – “Everything you wanted, nothing you expected.” Stylishly taking viewers through the possibilities and experiences available on its luxurious voyages, the film highlights three key themes – time, space and a life less ordinary, to elevate the experience of cruising with Cunard. Shot over seven days, the film transports viewers through a sensorial tour of the iconic Queen Mary 2. Following the journey of 12 actual Cunard guests as they travel between Southampton and New York City as they cross the Atlantic...
Avalon Greeting New Year With Savings Bonanza
If you have a client in the market for a European river cruise, 2017 is starting off just right. Avalon Waterways has announced that select European departures on on sale with discounts from $250 to $1,000 per person available. And, those having Avalon book their airfare on any 2017 European cruise will save $500 off their air ticket. Combine the two and save up to $1,500 per person. Bookings must be made by Jan. 3. All Avalon cruises include all meals (wine and beer included at lunch and dinner); daily shore excursions; on board tastings, talks and entertainment; and the use of...
Crash Course for First-Time Cruisers
With many first-time cruisers ready to embark on the joys and possibilities of a cruise vacation, CLIA is offering agents the following tips that can be passed on to potential cruise clients. “With seemingly limitless destination options and exciting new features on an array of ships, there has never been a better time to take a cruise, whether it is your first cruise, you haven’t cruised in a decade or you cruise frequently,” said CLIA president Cindy D’Aoust. “The beauty of cruise travel is that each trip is customized to personal preferences, and CLIA, along with our...