Cruise
HAL Enhances ‘Flight Ease’ Air Booking Program
Holland America Line (HAL) has added a new look and enhanced features to its air booking program, Flight Ease, making it more user-friendly for agents to navigate, search and book flights. In addition to the new design, the functionality of the site is now more intuitive, allowing users to select departure and return flights separately, add a stopover flight segment, easily compare real-time flexible and restricted fares, and review more detailed schedule displays. “We’re constantly communicating with our travel partners, and these Flight Ease enhancements are a result of...
MSC Grand Voyage to Include Maiden Call to China
MSC Cruises has revealed plans to make its first sailing to China, with the newly renovated MSC Lirica calling in Shanghai on May 1, 2016 after having travelled across continents. Lirica will make the company’s maiden call in China’s biggest megalopolis after a 60-day round-the-world Grand Voyage which departs on March 3, 2016 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “We are delighted to once more be able to offer our guests a brand new itinerary – from Brazil to China via Europe – which offers the chance to visit some of the most appealing places on earth, certainly across a huge...
Crystal Extends Free Wi-Fi to All Passengers
Crystal Cruises will expand its complimentary Internet access to all of its guests beginning Aug. 30 on both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. Crystal will provide one free hour per guest, per day for Deluxe Stateroom and Penthouse guests; 90 minutes for Penthouse Suite guests. With Crystal’s 24-hour satellite-enabled wireless Internet – which will also be available aboard Crystal Yacht Cruises’ Crystal Esprit when the maiden voyage embarks on Dec. 23, – travellers can remain connected while at sea, whether on their own devices or utilizing one of the ships’ cutting edge...
New ECO Program Available on Nova Star
The Nova Star cruise ferry’s daily crossing of the Gulf of Maine between Portland, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, is not only carrying tourists and commercial trucks, the ship also serves as a quasi-ocean research vessel for scientists from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay who have been conducting scientific studies of the region’s changing waters and marine life for the past 17 years. This work, along with seabird marine surveys, was the inspiration for the establishment of a new ECO Program aboard Nova Star, where scientists share their experiences and...
Crystal River Cruises Sets Sail in March 2017
On the heels of last month’s huge expansion announcement, Crystal Cruises has released more details about its collection of two Crystal river yacht vessels, which will be launched in Europe starting in late March 2017. According to officials, the new series of vessels will boast a yacht-like design featuring larger accommodations and space-to-guest ratio than any other river cruise ship, and include Crystal’s signature all-inclusive six-star service, plus a fresh approach to the traditional river itineraries and experiences. “We continue to listen to what our guests and the...
Cuba Cruise Offers Early Bird Savings
Celestyal Cruises, which recently launched a new seven-day all-inclusive Cuba cruise, has introduced Early Bird Savings of 20% off a winter cruise if booked by Aug. 31. The 2015-2016 season begins Dec. 18 and continues through to April 11, 2016. Early bird rates start at $1,299 per person. Cuba Cruise by Celestyal is the only all-inclusive cruise visiting four ports of call in Cuba during one seamless itinerary. Guests begin their cruise in either Havana or Montego Bay, visiting Maria La Gorda, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. Each day is spent soaking up the island’s captivating...
Wave of Avalon Promotions Due to Expire Sept. 15
It’s no secret that river cruising is enjoying huge success and to help agents close even more sales Avalon Waterways has a host of promotions available which are set to expire Sept. 15, applicable to 2016 sailings. They include: 15% savings on all France cruises; 10% to 15% on all other Europe cruises; 10% on all Southeast Asia; and 5% on all China, Egypt and South America itineraries. Other promotions soon to expire are: Savings of $1,000 per person or waived single supplement on select Irrawaddy (Myanmar) sailings; Book 9 and the 10th sails free in Europe or Southeast Asia; and...
Gifford Debuts New ‘GIFFT’ Pinot Noir Rosé
Today show host Kathie Lee Gifford, original Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson and current brand partner with her GIFFT wine collection, recently boarded Carnival Splendor in Manhattan to officially launch her GIFFT wine Pinot Noir Rosé. The new blend joins the GIFFT Red Blend and Chardonnay that were introduced fleetwide aboard Carnival’s ships earlier this year. Created in consultation with California-based Scheid Family Wines – one of the largest vineyard owners in Monterey County and known for having the longest growing season in California – the limited-edition Pinot Noir...