Princess Cruises has unveiled its 2016 cruise vacations to Europe featuring five ships sailing to more than 130 destinations from the corners of the Mediterranean to the northernmost tip of Europe.
Travellers can choose from itineraries ranging from three to 48 days and on ships ranging from the cruise line’s newest and largest Royal Princess and Regal Princess; to its deluxe Caribbean Princess and Emerald Princess; and its small ship, Pacific Princess, which will visit off-the-beaten path destinations never before visited by the line.
The 2016 season includes the cruise line’s...
Exotik Tours is featuring a special early booking incentive with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) that will appeal to both travel agents and their clients.
Through March 6, when customers reserve select NCL sailings 100 days in advance, they will receive a value voucher of up to US$325 per stateroom. This includes a shore excursion voucher of up to $100, a specialty dining voucher of up to $50, a bottle of wine with dinner, a photo package including four photos of any size, a bingo package and chocolate-covered strawberries in their stateroom.
What’s more, agents will receive 15%...
Carnival has created a new travel agent learning game dedicated to its newest ship – Carnival Vista – within its collection of quick and easy “Fun Games” in Carnival Passport, the line’s comprehensive learning management system for travel agents.
Available on GoCCL.com, the new “Jeopardy-style” game features 15 questions in five categories specific to Carnival Vista with subjects ranging from dining and itineraries to accommodations and outdoor spaces like WaterWorks and SportSquare.
Agents may answer questions in each category with the opportunity to earn 100, 300 or...
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reaches the ripe age of 40 this year and is now all grown up, representing the industry with one unified global voice, according to its chairman, Adam Goldstein, reports Montreal editor, Mike Dunbar in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press.
Having burst out of its North American bastion, the trade body for the shipboard vacation business now boasts additional representation in South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia, the president and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises told a recent state of the industry press conference in...
Long-stay cruises are reaching new heights. According to a recent travel agent survey conducted by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), 37% of agents reported an increase in bookings of 14- to 100-day cruises.
Longer sailings, including world cruises of several months, are increasingly popular among both retired and affluent travellers, according to travel agents. Agents also reported that the top advantage of long cruises is the ability to see many places hassle free, without having to deal with multiple airports and packing and unpacking. Travellers also like the exciting...
Charles Sylvia will be joining CLIA on March 2 as vice-president of Trade Relations.
Sylvia will work directly with travel agencies and agents, focused on CLIA member engagement and retention. He will be the primary liaison to CLIA’s Diamond and Gold Premium travel agency members, which is comprised of the largest travel agencies, hosts and consortia, and the sales and trade relations executives at CLIA member cruise lines.
Additionally, Sylvia will drive the continued enhancement of the agent professional development and certification programs.
Sylvia has more than 20 years of...
PortMiami will be the year-round homeport for Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ship to date, the 133,500-ton Carnival Vista, when it launches six- to eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning in December 2016.
Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Vista will introduce groundbreaking features such as SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience; the world’s first IMAX Theatre at sea; Kaleid-O-Slide, the line’s first water tube slide; and RedFrog Pub, including the line’s first onboard brewery.
Carnival will further bolster its position in Galveston,...
Agents interested in learning about Hurtigruten’s “The Most Beautiful Voyage in the World” without leaving their desk can now do so thanks to GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel and Tours, the Canadian representative for Hurtigruten.
GLP is offering a free one-hour webinar on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. (EST). Agents can learn about the “most beautiful voyage in the world” and all the different voyages Hurtigruten offers.
“We recognize that agents are extremely busy, but at the same time there is a desire to learn about products that can earn them significant commissions and also...
Encore Cruises new “Triple Play” promotion with Royal Caribbean International gives travellers three special offers with each applicable booking, and rewards agents as well.
Valid on all new bookings made by March 15 for departures up to April 30, when clients book any Caribbean sailing of six nights or longer – excluding Quantum of the Seas – in an oceanview stateroom or higher, they will receive: a US$100 onboard credit per stateroom; a specialty dinner for two at Chops Grille, Portofino, Gionvanni’s Table, Samba Grill or Solarium Bistro; and for clients who book a balcony...
While Valetine's Day may be over for another year, Royal Caribbean is still feeling the love. The cruise company launched a BOGO Wild offer that agents' clients who are looking for savings will love.
From Valentine’s Day through March 10, 2015, travellers can get half off the second guest’s cruise fare when making a new booking in an Oceanview or higher-category stateroom with a full-fare guest on a five-night or longer cruise, plus up to $200 onboard credit per stateroom to spend on the ship.
Passengers can apply their onboard credit toward a wide range experiences to further...