Cruise
CLIA Sailing to New Heights
Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) has upped the ante on its annual cruise3sixty conference with a slate of new elements, including innovative ship inspections (the most at any single travel event), destination and product showcases, workshops and education, and, a conference first:, co-located meeting opportunities for host agencies and consortia. With more than 800 CLIA member travel agents already registered six months in advance of the conference, the event promises to be the biggest cruise3sixty program ever. It is scheduled for April 22-26, 2015, at the Greater Fort...
Regal Princess Launched in Star-Studded Ceremony
Princess Cruises, the cruise line made famous as the backdrop of the iconic Love Boat television series, christened its new Regal Princess this week with a tribute to the show as all six of the original cast members served as the ship’s godparents, and were joined by 25 of the show’s past guest stars. The star-studded Love Boat themed festivities, which also launched the line’s 50th anniversary, celebrated the role the show played in Princess Cruises’ five-decades-long history. All six Love Boat cast members – Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Fred Grandy (Gopher, the chief...
Jann Arden Named Avalon’s Newest Godmother
Avalon Waterways has added a touch of Canadian music to its lineup with the announcement that the company’s newest godmother is Canadian singing and songwriting legend Jann Arden. Arden will christen the Avalon Tranquility II at a ceremony in Strasbourg, France on April 2 next year. “We are delighted that Jann agreed to undertake this role,” says Stéphanie Bishop, managing director of Avalon Waterways for Canada. “For the first time, this christening will be an all-Canadian event with all guests on board coming from Canada including media and travel industry...
Discovery at Sea
Princess Cruises and Discovery Consumer Products, the licensing arm of Discovery Communications, have teamed up to create Discovery At Sea, interactive onboard activities and shore excursions to entertain passengers aboard Princess ships. The new Discovery At Sea cruise vacations will feature themed tours, science activities, hands-on programs and games based on Discovery’s breadth of brands and programming. Debuting on Princess Cruises’ ships in early 2015, the interactive experiences are designed to bring to life the nature, wildlife and history of the regions guests are...
Norwegians Free to Choose
Norwegian Cruise Line is debuting Norwegian’s Freestyle Choice, offering guests the freedom to choose how they want to save with two special offers. Those who book a new cruise through Nov. 9 will receive free balcony upgrades, plus a choice of either a free dining package or up to $2,000 cash back in onboard credit based on their cruise fare. During Norwegian’s Freestyle Choice, foodies can opt to receive a complimentary dinner for two at Norwegian’s signature specialty restaurants. On one- to two-night sailings, cruisers will enjoy a meal at Italian restaurant La Cucina. On...
Encore Offers $50 Bonus Commission
Effective immediately and for a limited time, Encore Cruises is offering an exclusive $50 bonus commission on all Carnival bookings for any sailing of seven nights or longer. Running from Nov. 3-16, this offer applies to new individual bookings only, on all categories and ships. The offer is combinable with other cruise line promotions, but not with any other “Only at Encore” offer. It is not applicable to group bookings, and cancelling an existing file to rebook during the promotion period is not...
Carnival CEO Cahill to Retire
Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines, has announced he is retiring, effective Nov. 30, after 20 years of service. Cahill, 63, has been CEO of Carnival Corporation’s largest cruise brand since 2007, growing the cruise line to 24 ships – the largest in the company’s fleet – during his tenure. “Gerry has been instrumental in taking Carnival Cruise Lines to new heights as one of the preeminent brands in the cruise industry,” said Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc. “He and his team have delivered new innovations to...
Disney Sailing Back to Tortola
Disney Cruise Line will once again be stopping in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands starting in January 2016. The Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic will sail from Port Canaveral, Fla. to the Eastern Caribbean, with Tortola as a port-of-call on 11 sailings. Tortola is the largest island of the BVI chain offering white sand beaches, ancient ruins and tasty local cuisine. Available activities for cruise passengers include boating, diving, sailing, hiking and...