Cruise
Uniworld To Launch Its Newest in India
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection will launch its newest luxury river cruise ship, the Ganges Voyager II, in India in January 2016. The 56-passenger, all-suite vessel will sail India’s Ganges River on Uniworld’s newest itinerary, the 13-day “India’s Golden Triangle & the Sacred Ganges,” featuring a seven-night cruise and five nights in Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Highlights include Delhi’s Humayun’s Tomb, the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, Jaipur’s City Palace, Mother Theresa’s home and tomb in Kolkata, Verdic temple in...
Princess Gets Majestic
Princess Cruises reports its new ship now under construction, a sister ship to Royal Princess and Regal Princess, will be named Majestic Princess. The new ship will be based in China year-round beginning in summer 2017 and become the first vessel built specifically for Chinese guests incorporating a unique blend of international and Chinese features. “Royal Princess and Regal Princess were named after iconic previous vessels, while Majestic Princess will carry a name that was chosen by our global employees,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “The name Majestic...
Groupe Artemis Acquires PONANT
Groupe Artemis, holding company of the Pinault family, which owns auction house Christie's and controls the company behind such fashion brands as Gucci and Saint-Laurent, has completed an acquisition of French-flagged cruise line PONANT from private equity firm Bridgepoint. Founded in 1988 and based in Marseille, PONANT offers luxury cruise itineraries all over the world, including polar expeditions. “In the last three years, together we [Bridgeport] have launched and financed new ships, opened new offices in Australia and China, and acquired a leading player in the American...
Disney Cruise Line Unveils 2017 Schedule
Disney Cruise Line will return to favourite destinations in the Caribbean and the Bahamas in 2017, offering a variety of itineraries, most from Florida ports. Limited-time engagements in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Galveston, Texas, complete the line-up for the first part of the year. Most cruises feature a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island reserved exclusively for Disney guests. With three Disney ships in port and cruise lengths spanning three, four and seven nights, travellers looking for a Disney Cruise Line getaway in early 2017 have a full menu of options from Port...
Change Abounds At Cuba Cruise
Since last year’s successful second season of operations, Cuba Cruise has seen a vast change in political climate, reports western editor, Ted Davis in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. That is, Cuba is now increasingly on the radar of American travellers, and Cuba Cruise is proving to be a popular way to reach and experience the once-reclusive island nation. A thawing in the diplomatic relationship between Cuba and the United States is starting to open the door to American tourism to Cuba, although those visits are still restricted. As such, early bookings on the...
Encore, AmaWaterways Booking Incentive
For the entire month of October, Encore Cruises and AmaWaterways have introduced a special offer for both travel agents and consumers. Travel agents will earn five times Loyalty points for a total of 10,000 for each three-day or longer online booking made between Oct. 1 and 31. Bookings made over the phone are eligible for the Loyalty points offer. In addition, consumers can save $200 on all 2015 and 2016 sailings. They can also take advantage of a 20% Canadian Resident discount on Europe, Asia and Africa sailings and save an additional $1,500 on select Wine cruises, for departures...
Stars Celebrate Shackleton Centenary
Explorers Rebecca Stephens, MBE and Michael Palin, CBE will be on board as Silversea Expeditions celebrates the centenary of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition to the Antarctica. Silversea Expeditions and the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers or IBG) are also partnering for the centenary celebrations. The story of how Shackleton led his men in the Weddell Sea party over ice and ocean to safety is one of the greatest survival tales in human history. In November 1915, Shackleton's ship, the Endurance, could no longer navigate the frozen...
Costa Doubling Indian Ocean Cruises
Costa Cruises will be doubling the number of cruises it offers in the Indian Ocean for its winter 2016-2017 sailing season. The Costa neoRomantica will operate 11 cruises of 14 days duration between Oct. 15, 2016 and March 4, 2017. Departures are from Mauritius, with the ship heading to Madagascar for day calls to Nosy Be, Diego Suarez and Tamatave; the next stop, one day and one night, will be the island of Reunion; before returning to Mauritius. The increase in the number of cruises in the Indian Ocean is the end result of an agreement signed in Paris this week, during the...