Cruise
Avalon Adds More Christmas-Themed Cruises for 2017
In the last five years, Avalon Waterways has tripled its Christmas-themed departures, giving more travellers more chances to “delight in the sights, smells and tastes of Central Europe’s Christmas markets” while sailing European waterways via the company’s Suite Ships. Now there’s even more choice for next year. “In addition to increasing our Christmas cruise departures to cater to the growing popularity of festive cruises, we are also offering travellers more diverse itineraries from which to choose the perfect Christmas cruise,” said Patrick Clark, managing director of...
Celestyal Thanks Agent Partners
Celestyal Cruises has introduced a month-long bonus incentive program to show its appreciation for agents across Canada. For every new booking made throughout May, agents will receive a bonus $30 gift card and can enter to win a seven-day Caribbean cruise for two to experience Cuba with Celestyal Cruises. Tour operator bookings are eligible. The special offer is valid for Cuba sailings between Nov. 18 and Dec. 12. “On behalf of the Celestyal Cruises family throughout Canada, Greece and Cuba, we would like to take this opportunity to show our great appreciation for Canadian travel...
CLIA Takes Aim At The Issues
Over 100 delegates gathered in London recently to tackle a range of key regulatory and technical cruise industry topics, including public health, the environment, technology innovation and safety. Participants at CLIA’s Technical & Regulatory Forum included CLIA Cruise Line and Executive Partner Members, as well as international regulators, such as Ambassador Arsenio A. Dominguez, Marine Environment Protection Committee Chairman at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The London forum was designed to build on the educational platform established over the past year and...
AmaWaterways Celebrates Launch of AmaKristina
AmaWaterways’ newest ship, AmaKristina, celebrated its official launch on recently at Vahali Shipyard in Serbia. During the festivities, AmaWaterways executive vice-president and co-owner, Kristin Karst baptized her namesake vessel. AmaWaterways president and co-owner, Rudi Schreiner then honoured long-time shipbuilding partners and friends Koert and Marian Kamphuisen, presenting them with a memorial plate. After special remarks by Karst and Schreiner, guests enjoyed a commemorative champagne toast, a spread of local specialties and dazzling farewell fireworks. Karst said:...
Crystal Expansion
Things just keep on getting bigger and better for Crystal Cruises as the luxury line confirmed it has signed an order for eight new ships with the Lloyd Werft Group, a collection of four shipyards in Northern Germany. Crystal will build six new luxury river yachts to be deployed on European rivers with deliveries from 2017 to 2019. The two additional river yachts are the result of continued interest and demands from travel partners and guests, and join the four previously announced vessels – Crystal Debussy, Crystal Ravel, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Bach – planned for embarkation...
MSC Cruises Doubling Cuba Presence
MSC Cruises will be strengthening its presence in Cuba by home-porting a second ship in Havana from the winter 2016-2017 season in order to continue to meet rising demand for the destination. Canada continues to be a prominent cruise market for MSC Cruises and with over one million Canadian sun-seekers travelling to Cuba each year, and after a successful inaugural season, in December 2016, MSC Opera will sail its second Cuban winter, offering eight-day (seven-night) cruises from Havana to Montego Bay (Jamaica), Georgetown (Cayman Islands), Cozumel (Mexico) and back to Havana. Guests will...
Future Is Bright For Cuba
At this year's FITCuba show – held last week in Havana – Transat founder, Jean-Marc Eustache praised Cuba's tourism trade and then heard kind words in turn for his company from the highest official in Cuban tourism. Eustache told a gathering during FITCuba that there's been a long partnership between Cuba and Transat and “I'm deeply convinced the future is bright for Cuba.” Eustache added Transat is a “true partner for its Cuba friends.” Cuba tourism minister Manuel Marrero in turn praised Transat, telling the same Havana gathering that Transat has shown “much...
Encore Welcomes Fathom To Its Portfolio
Encore Cruises has announced that Fathom, the newest brand in the Carnival Corporation & plc family, is now part of its line-up, bringing Encore’s portfolio to a total of 17 cruise line partners. Fathom is bringing “impact travel” to life aboard the 704-passenger Adonia, the smallest ship in the P&O fleet. Pioneered by Fathom, impact travel is a whole new category of travel – it’s travel with purpose. Impact travel with Fathom provides the opportunity to build community with like-minded travellers, become immersed in another culture, and work alongside its people...