cruising news to use TOP STORIES
ASSOCIATION OF CRUISE EXPERTS (ACE)
ANDY HARMER Director, ACE
Voyages' price promise
Winter warmers It’s hard to believe that winter is just around the corner and I’m sure I’m not the only one now thinking about getting away on holiday to any one of a number of exciting and interesting places. And it’s that great choice of destinations that’s one of the key drivers to repeat and new cruise business
Place versus price interestingly, a recent survey showed that those aged 54 and under placed the same priority on price and destination whereas those aged 55 and above put destination first. Either way, we can see that destination plays a vitally important role in the decision- making process. And cruise lines, both ocean and river, are continually introducing new itineraries and ports.
ACE's Greatest Journeys And following this theme, ACE has recently launched ‘Greatest Journeys’, a new website featuring travel agents’ own stories and images from their cruise holidays. These adventures will highlight to potential customers the great destinations that can be visited on a cruise and the beautiful and exciting experiences than can be enjoyed with this type of holiday. ‘Greatest Journeys’ is about explaining to
customers the rich diversity that cruising offers, the wonderful destinations and great ports of call. It’s also about highlighting how travel agents are best placed to offer advice and guidance.
I can but dream... And although not wishing my life away, I was recently reading about one cruise line highlighting a 2014 World Voyage – a 113-day cruise taking in 29 countries and 54 ports, that’s a pretty impressive number of destinations in one holiday!
BY LAURA GELDER VOYAGES of Discovery has introduced a 'price promise', pledging to agents and customers that if the price of a cruise decreases after booking they'll be offered the difference. Applying to standard fares on cruises
departing from April 29 2013, the deal offers customers onboard credit or upgrades. It coincides with the launch of the cruise line's new summer 2013 second edition brochure and the new Winter 2013/14 preview brochure and encourages customers to book early. Voyages' Sales and Marketing Director,
Geoff Lawrence commented: “The Price Promise means customers won't miss out and also allows agents to assure their customers that prices won’t be undercut." The Price Promise applies to the start
of new and refurbished ship Voyager’s first summer season when she'll sail a series of no-fly cruises from Portsmouth,
Virgin cruise territory
VIRGIN Holidays Cruises has launched its Platinum Collection, showcasing a range of luxury cruise lines and offering hotel add-ons. As well as access to airport lounges, cabin upgrades and chauffeur transfers
in the UK, ‘stay and cruise’ options allow customers to pick a hotel from the tour operator's worldwide portfolio for before or after their voyage. The dedicated, handpicked Platinum
Cruise Collection team has received additional training and offers only premium cruises.
Options include a gastro cruise on
Oceania's Regatta in Alaska, or sailing the Caribbean on Star Clippers' five-mast tall ship Royal Clipper. Richard Twynam, Managing Director at Virgin Holidays Cruises commented on the launch: " We already work with all the major cruise lines and offer a huge number of embarkation points across the world but we hope to offer a unique and bespoke experience much beyond just selling a cruise to our passengers”.
www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk
IN BRIEF
Cruise on the up. Figures compiled by cruise industry assocations like the Passenger Shipping Assocation and Cruise Lines International Association show that cruising is rising in popularity. The UK was the second largest cruise market in the world, behind North America, in 2011, with 1.7m taking a cruise, an increase of 9%.
14 October 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Azamara continues longer stays. Having announced the 2014 programme for its two ships, Azamara Club Cruises has revealed more late-night and overnight stays in port. The new programme also inlcudes 45 maiden ports such as Maura in Brunei and the island- village Vila do Abraao in Brazil.
www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk
Fred. treads new ground.
The Canadian port of Trois-Rivières’ received its first ever cruise ship this September – Fred. Olsen's Balmoral. The city is located in the Mauricie region of Québec, on the Saint Lawrence River between Montréal and Québec City. The ship hosted dignitaries including the town's mayor.
www.fredolsencruises.com
followed by fly cruises to the Black Sea and Mediterranean. For Winter 2013/14 Voyager will head to the Far East with itineraries including Vietnam, Thailand and Burma. Voyages is offering a 5% early booking discount on all Winter 2013/14 bookings made by October 31. Standard fares feature a range of benefits including on-board gratuities, service charges and coach transfer or free car parking at UK ports for no-fly cruises.
www.voyagesofdiscovery.com
Serenade has makeover
ROYAL Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas is the latest of the fleet to be earmarked for a refurbishment, as part of the cruise line's $300 million enhancement programme. Starting in November, the refurbishment will see the ship aquire more speciality restaurants, such as the Italian Giovanni’s Table, Izumi speciality sushi restaurant and Rita’s Cantina, a vibrant Mexican restaurant. The Chef’s Table dining option will also be available – a private five- course wine pairing experience. New bars include the R Bar, an overhaul
of the exisiting Champagne Bar with a retro 1960 vibe, and the new Vintages wine bar. New amenities will include a new baby
and toddler nursery, flat-screen TVs in every room and wifi throughout the ship. A giant outdoor cinema screen will be erected and there will be a Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty programme members. Serenade of the Seas will debut a series
of Speciality Dining Packages, starting at $55 per guest, and will offer the Lafite Wine Tasting Experience onboard The ship will first sail from Barcelona
on December 3 2012. On January 14 2013 the ship will head to Dubai and offer a series of seven-night cruises calling at Fujairah, Muscat and Abu Dhabi.
www.royalcaribbean.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68