Cruise
A Warm Welcome From AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways celebrated the opening of its 2023 European season following a successful Cruise Managers’ Kickoff Meeting onboard AmaMagna hosted by Co-Founder and Executive Vice-President, Kristin Karst. Guests are now welcome aboard AmaWaterways’ fleet of 19 award-winning ships sailing Europe’s majestic waterways, including five ships cruising the scenic rivers of France, five ships dedicated to the early spring Tulip Time cruises and another ten welcoming guests on the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube and Douro rivers. Karst said: “Our Cruise Managers add that extra...
FCTG Launches Initiatives For Independent
Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) Independent Division has launched its inaugural Global Incentive trip -- “Independent Icons” – designed specifically for its top 50 independent travel advisors from around the world. The event follows in the footsteps of FCTG’s Global Gathering event that attracts the top 10% of all Flight Centre staff globally. FCTG’s Independent division includes Independent by Flight Centre in Canada and Independent by Liberty in the US. The group currently has over 1,700 independent travel agencies across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, and...
Clear Sailing Ahead For Great Lakes Cruising
As Stephen Burnett, Executive Director, Great Lakes Cruise Association (GLCA), sees it, “Over the next 20 years, we expect the number of cruise ships to triple in the Saint Lawrence river and the Great Lakes and it's predictable that we will need more port communities, more docking spaces and more stakeholders involved in the industry.” Burnett continues: “In 2023, we are expecting 12 cruise ships to deploy into the Great Lakes and in total they will offer in excess of 37,000 individual cruise births. This means that over 1.1 million times a cruise guest in 2023 will visit a...
Viking Sets A New Course With Paris, D-Day Voyage
Viking has unveiled details of its new Paris & D-Day 80th Anniversary voyage for the 2024 European river season. With departure dates running from March through November 2024, the special 12-day voyage from London to Paris will commemorate Operation Overlord and the historic battles of Normandy, which took place nearly 80 years ago and served as the catalyst to the liberation of Western Europe from German occupation. Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, said that: “Many of our guests, particularly those with family members who served in the armed forces, have a keen interest in...
Explora Journeys Adds To Its Leadership Team
Explora Journeys has expanded its executive leadership team with the appointment of Norbert Stiekema as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Vanessa Vollmann as Head of People. Both positions will report directly to Michael Ungerer, CEO Explora Journeys, and be based in the luxury brand`s headquarters in Geneva. Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer, Explora Journeys said: “As we gear up for the launch of our first vessel, Explora I, later this year and the subsequent launch of our entire fleet of six vessels in a five-year window, we need the best team to allow our brand...
MSC Cruises, Formula 1 Launch Grand Prix Experience
MSC Cruises and Formula 1 have unveiled a Grand Prix hospitality offering for this year’s FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX on Nov. 24 to Nov. 26. The new collaboration will take race weekend accommodation to the next level providing a fully integrated Grand Prix experience that will bring the trackside thrills of the final race of the season on board MSC Virtuosa, one of the line’s most modern and stylish cruise ships. Serving as a cruise ship hotel throughout the race weekend while docked in the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, the MSC Virtuosa offers comfortable and...
Viking Sets Sail With New Agent Training Program
Viking has launched the Viking Travel Advisor Academy -- www.myvikingjourney.com/advisor -- a new training program designed to provide travel advisors with the tools to promote Viking and the opportunity to earn exclusive benefits. The four-module academy allows advisors to become a Viking Certified Expert and learn the sales and marketing tips that have proven successful to sell Viking’s river, ocean and expedition voyages. Michele Saegesser, Vice President of Sales and National Accounts at Viking, said that: “We are very proud of our longstanding partnerships with travel...
Scenic Extends Christmas Market Cruise Offerings
Europe’s Christmas Markets have become increasingly popular and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is setting sail with a 15-day sailing that celebrates the Christmas and New Years holidays in Europe while enjoying the festive markets. It is also offering eight- to 18-day Christmas Market cruises on the Danube and the Rhine earlier in the season with ample time in ports to visit and shop the stalls that sell unique gift items such as handcrafted wooden nutcrackers and toys, one-of-a-kind glass Christmas ornaments, local knick-knacks and much more. Guests booking any of these...