Cruise
CLIA Campaign Puts Spotlight On Cruise Planning
October has been declared National Plan a Cruise Month. And to help promote the cruise industry, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has launched a multi-dimensional campaign featuring numerous cruise vacation offers – from chances to win a cruise each day of the month to cruise deals and promotions. And to help agents leverage National Plan a Cruise Month, CLIA is providing tips, tools and techniques to encourage prospects and clients to plan a cruise, whether they are new-to cruise or returning to a vacation at sea. CLIA has launched a toolkit that is complete with...
Carnival Pride to Return to Tampa in 2017
Carnival Cruise Line’s 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride will return to the Port of Tampa to operate a series of five- to 14-day voyages in January and February 2017. Pride has undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation that added consumer favourites like Guy’s Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network Star Guy Fieri, the full-service Bonsai Sushi, and BlueIguana Cantina serving authentic Mexican fare, along with innovative beverage concepts like the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub, and the poolside BlueIguana Tequila Bar and RedFrog...
Ensemble, Fathom Launch New Partnership
Ensemble Travel Group and Fathom have launched a new partnership that will expand Ensemble members’ ability to provide authentic social impact travel experiences for their clients. Fathom, the newest brand in the Carnival Corporation family, will pioneer meaningful, purpose-driven travel for clients looking to give back and make a lasting social impact. Beginning in April 2016, Fathom will offer round-trip voyages from Miami to the Dominican Republic aboard its flagship 710-passenger Adonia, and in May 2016, the company intends to begin offering round-trip voyages from Miami to...
Crystal Yacht Cruises Opens Bookings
Starting next month, travellers can book their luxury yachting vacation with Crystal Yacht Cruises – part of Crystal Cruises recently announced expansion plans. As Crystal Esprit charts new waters with its maiden voyage this winter, Crystal Cruises is unveiling the complete itineraries and fares for 2016 through the beginning of 2018. The routes were first made available for booking exclusively for Crystal Society members – Crystal’s repeat guest program – and will be open to all travellers on Sept. 1. The new routes mark Crystal’s first-ever offering of immersive...
ACV, MSC Introduce All-Inclusive Cruise Package
Air Canada Vacations (ACV), in partnership with MSC Cruises, is offering a unique seven-night Western Caribbean cruise onboard the MSC Opera and offering clients the option to board the ship in Havana or Montego Bay. From Havana, sailings are offered every Wednesday starting Dec. 23 to April 6, 2016, and from Montego Bay every Saturday starting Dec. 26 to April 9, 2016. The cruise begins in Havana where the ship is docked all day and overnight. This is followed by a day at sea before arriving in Montego Bay. From there, the MSC Opera sails to Grand Cayman and Cozumel before...
Emerald Christens Two in Budapest
Emerald Waterways held a dual christening event on Aug. 21 in Budapest as it officially launched its two newest “Star Ships” – the Emerald Dawn and the Emerald Sun. The godmothers were US travel industry veteran Kelly Bergin (Dawn) and UK travel industry veteran Julie Kendrick (Sun). The new vessels carry 182 guests in 72 suites and 20 staterooms, including two specifically built for solo occupancy. Ship innovations include an onboard heated swimming pool with a retractable roof, which transforms into a movie theatre in the evening; two restaurants – Reflections, the main...
Carnival Ships On The Move
Carnival Cruise Line will reposition the 102,000-ton Carnival Victory on the line’s popular five-port, seven-day southern Caribbean cruise schedule from San Juan beginning in November 2016. In addition, Carnival will position new ships in two key homeports with Carnival Ecstasy (pictured) shifting to Charleston, S.C., and Carnival Fantasy to Miami in February 2016, providing new “Fun Ship” cruise options for travellers in those markets. Carnival Victory will reposition to San Juan to offer a week-long southern Caribbean cruise schedule beginning Nov. 6, 2016. The itinerary...
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...