news to use TOP STORIES
ASSOCIATION OF CRUISE EXPERTS
ANDY HARMER Director, ACE
What are your predictions for 2013? 2013 looks set to be a promising year in the world of cruise with more ocean and river holidays predicted to be taken by Brits than ever before. There are a number of notable ship launches on the horizon highlighting the innovation and investment that cruise lines continue to make in a sector renowned for enhancing the customer experience at every opportunity.
Give us some details on new ships Compagnie du Ponant launches Le Soleil, MSC Cruises debuts MSC Preziosa and there are three launches with celebrations taking place in the UK – Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway, Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess and Hapag Lloyd’s Europa 2. On the rivers, 2013 brings us Avalon Artistry II and Avalon Expression from Avalon Cruises and AmaPrima and AmaVida from AmaWaterways. We should also mention Silversea’s new ship – the Silver Galapagos – which as the name suggests will spend the year cruising the waters around the Galapagos Islands.
What are the key sales messages? The great choice in style of cruising, the on-board facilities and of course the great destinations offered provide customers with an incredible choice of experiences. From the 100-passenger Silver Galapagos to the Norwegian Breakaway, capable of carrying 4,000 passengers, there’s a cruise style for everyone. The important thing is to get the right person on the right ship with exactly the right itinerary for them.
How can agents boost their sales? The only way to gain the knowledge and maintain a level of expertise is by getting involved through online and offline training, events, seminars, ship visits and by keeping an eye on the news. This is a fast moving and exciting travel sector – make 2013 your year to shine.
CL heads for NCL NCL Royal Dreamworks
ROYAL Caribbean International has announced the expansion of The DreamWorks Experience on board. Guests will now have more opportunities to join in the high-seas hijinks of the DreamWorks characters. The DreamWorks Experience, premiered onboard Allure of the Seas in 2010, has since been added to Oasis of the Seas, sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale (Florida); Freedom of the Seas from Port Canaveral; Liberty of the Seas, from Port Everglades and Barcelona and, most recently, Voyager of the Seas in the Far East and Australia. The themed entertainment will also be on Mariner of the Seas when she arrives in the Far East in May 2013.
www.royalcaribbean.co.uk
Sky's the limit for Alberta
CANADIAN province Alberta is packaging up the skies in 2013 as astronomers predict a year of extra spectacular viewings.
Sunspot activity is rising, with the Solar Max peaking in 2013, which means the Aurora Borealis is already stunning over the province. New packages include a nine-day itinerary from Newmarket Holidays with astronomy and
photography experts. The trip, priced from £1299pp, takes in Fort McMurray where sightings are among the best.
In addition, Jasper National Park has
been officially christened as the largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world with light pollution at an absolute minimum ensuring great star-gazing opportunities. Visitors will soon be able to combine star-gazing here with the new Glacier Discovery Walk. This new attraction will provide a 400 metre boardwalk and a glass-floored observation platform extending 30 metres out over the Sunwapta Valley. It will open this summer.
www.travelalberta.com
Expressions heads north in Sri Lanka EXPRESSIONS Holidays has included
the formerly-troubled north and north- east region of Sri Lanka for 2013.
The new seven-night north and north east Sri Lanka touring itinerary has clients accompanied by a private
specialist chauffeur-guide to highlights which include the islands of Nagadeepa
IN BRIEF
Boutique Brunei: Royal Brunei Airlines has restructured and rebranded for the first time in 25 years in a bid to "re-assert itself as a boutique airline". The rebrand coincides with the entry into service of its first B787 Dreamliner. The airline's daily flight from London will shift to an evening departure from the end of March.
www.bruneiair.com
Harrods incentive: Azamara is offering £50 Harrods gift cards to agents booking any of Azamara Club Cruises' newly-added cruises. The new spring cruises include free flights to join sailings to destinations such as Seville, the Cote d’Azur and Andalucía. All-inclusive prices start from £1,699 pp.
www.cruisingpower.co.uk
Bali bliss: Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran opens at the end of this month with a focus on its Elevated Sunset Wedding package. The package includes suite upgrades, resort credit and luxurious transfers if booked before January 31, along with two additional room nights. The wedding must to take place before September 30.
www.starwoodhotels.com
Mississippi culture
AN 11-day cultural exploration of the Mississippi River has been launched by Tauck as part of its new 'Ken Burns American Journeys' collection. The new 'Life on the Mississippi' itinerary crafted by the award-winning filmmaker begins with an overnight stay in Memphis, followed by a seven- night Mississippi River cruise aboard the American Queen paddlewheel steamboat. It concludes with a two- night stay in New Orleans and features a diverse array of exclusive shore excursions.
www.tauck.com
and Delft, reached by ferry from Jaffna, and a boat trip to Pigeon Island from ‘Trinco’. Prices start from £1920 pp. This itinerary can be combined with a beach stay in the north Jungle Beach and Nilaveli Beach Hotel, Trincomalee, or Maalu Maalu Resort at Passikudah Bay.
www.expressionsholidays.co.uk
TANIA SPENCER & GNWTR
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