cruisenews the travel news that's turning heads


theround-up E Crystal Cruises will be offering two


Seabourn ditches the yachts


North Cape voyages in 2011 aboard Crystal Serenity. The Copenhagen to Stockholm ‘North Cape Panorama’ will sail from June 13-27 2011 whilst the Copenhagen to London ‘Into the Midnight Sun’ will sail from July 8-22. Both 14-night voyages cruise the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, the North Cape, Bear Island, Polar Ice Cap and the Baltic Sea, with ports of call including Copenhagen, five destinations in Norway including Longyear City plus Stockholm. Prices start from £5,019pp and include ‘free’ economy air travel from London. 020 7287 9040 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk


Southampton's ACE time


The Association of Cruise Experts (ACE) will hold its 2011 UK Cruise Convention in Southampton between May 3-5.


The convention will be themed E Fans of Abba could well discover


‘cruise365’ to ‘mark the year-round nature of the industry’. There will be a dedicated day specifically for owners, managers and ACE Ambassadors as well as business seminars, debates, networking opportunities and a trade fair. In


their Waterloo onboard Fred Olsen Cruise’s Boudicca’s 14-night Canaries cruise in March. For lined up to appear are leading tribute band, Abba Arrivals. The cruise departs from Southampton on March 6 2011 and visits Leixoes (for Oporto), Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, Madeira, and Vigo in Spain, before heading back to the UK. Prices start from £1,199pp, based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin. Refurbishment of Boudicca will start in early January 2011. 01473 742424 www.fredolsencruises.co.uk


E DFDS Seaways has a five-night


river cruise that takes in Holland and Belgium’s countryside. The experience starts in Newcastle, with an overnight ferry crossing to Amsterdam that includes a meal, an evening’s entertainment as well as an en-suite cabin. Then it’s aboard the Croisi river cruiser, for a journey that starts in Amsterdam and ends in Antwerp. Departing April 3 2011, prices start at £449pp. 0871 882 0885. www.dfds.co.uk


Loyal to Hurtigruten


addition, delegates will be able to visit Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, P&O Cruises’ Aurora, Fred Olsen’s Balmoral and Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas.


Tickets are now on sale for the 2011


ACE UK Cruise Convention - a unique opportunity to network for agents specialising in cruise to network, visit ships. There's an early bird offer for bookings made before January 31. www.cruiseexperts.org


by Alan Orbell Upmarket cruise line, Yachts of Seabourn, has rebranded its product and is now to be called simply Seabourn. The company's decision to drop 'Yachts of' from the cruise line's title was taken after recent market research revealed an ‘inappropriate understanding’ about the reference to yachts amongst consumers. At a rebrand launch evening held in Central London's Ivy Club last month (December), the company's president and chief executive, Pam Conover, said that the term 'yachts' did not do full justice to the luxury facilities and amenities, fine dining, entertainment and spas onboard its fleet of six ships. “With the introduction of the new


Odyssey class ships we are seeking to attract new guests to Seabourn and we want to ensure our brand clearly reflects the quality and style of service we provide onboard," added Pam Conover. ww.seabourn.com


MORE... online at www.shortbreaksholidays.com


news • advice • chat • information Norwegian asks agents to book direct


Hurtigruten wants agents to push its new customer loyalty programme as part of a drive to increase repeat passenger bookings. The new ‘1893 Ambassador’ programme, the first of its kind from Hurtigruten, is open to anyone who has spent at least three consecutive nights on board a Hurtigruten ship. Benefits include a 10% repeat customer bonus on the next Norwegian Coastal Voyage with at least three consecutive nights on board and a 5% discount on selected excursions on the Norwegian Coastal Voyage. www.hurtigruten.co.uk/agents


Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a 2011 schedule of direct regional flights that agents can sell through a new, streamlined fly-cruise booking process. Norwegian Cruise Line’s partnership with airline Jet2.com means agents can book clients on flights from Manchester and Edinburgh direct to Venice to join Norwegian Jade’s Eastern Med itineraries. Thomas Cook will provide flights from Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle and London Gatwick to Barcelona’s Reus Airport for


new ship Norwegian Epic’s seven-night Western Mediterranean sailings. By making one call to a contact


centre reservation agent, travel agents can now get all the necessary flight information to pass on to customers at the time of booking. Norwegian Jade’s Eastern Med


and Greek Isles seven-night fly-cruise (May-October), travelling to Venice and including Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, Katakolon and back to Venice is priced from £1069pp. www.ncl.co.uk


www.shortbreaksholidays.com • Spring 2011 09


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