SHORT HAUL: Cruising
Jo says...
The magic of the Mediterranean “World class port cities, fabulous local cuisine and enough culture and monuments to fi ll the British Museum 50 times over – it’s no surprise that the Mediterranean continues to remain one of the most popular parts of the world to cruise. With fi ve ships based out of the UK for the fi rst time, our 2013 summer season of Med cruises is set to be our biggest ever. Whether you’re bartering for bargains in a Turkish bazaar or feasting on pizza in a Roman piazza, in the Mediterranean there is no end to activities and experiences to be had.
Special summer offers
We’ve just launched a ‘Going, Going, Gone!’ sale for Royal Caribbean, with 3,000 14-night European cruises at £999.
Meanwhile, Celebrity Cruises is offering fantastic value on free drinks packages (worth $50 per person, per day) for sailings departing from the UK, when booked before February 28 2013. These offers are both supported by a £20 Lifestyle voucher for every agent booking made during February for cruises departing out of Southampton.
Ex-UK cruising
This year Celebrity Cruises is doubling its UK deployment, with the introduction of the newly revitalised Celebrity Infi nity to be based in Harwich for the summer season and Royal Caribbean International will welcome the arrival of a second ship based out of Southampton when Adventure of the Seas joins Independence of the Seas in May 2013. Plus, this year, Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Refl ection, will sail its fi rst Mediterranean season.”
60 February 2013 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
pattern for the Mediterranean being restored? Yes, we can. Med cruises are still fi lled mainly by Britons and Europeans – 3.5m at the last count, that’s 75- to 80% of total carryings.
“But as the sunniest parts of the Med off-season, North Africa and the Middle East are key to the growth of winter cruising in the Mediterranean, this is where the Arab Spring issues come into the equation.” David Dingle, CEO, Carnival UK
“In the early 2000s, cruise lines ordered more ships because we saw growth
in the European markets; we were proved correct as huge growth followed. 2013 is a plateau year, but we never grow in a straight line - there are always jigs and jags. “The Caribbean was fl at in recent
years, after a boom, and now the same thing is happening in the Med; it’s a period of market absorption” John Tercek, Vice President of Commercial and New Business Development, Royal Caribbean Cruises
What’s new Commission earners: Cunard
Line’s August-to-November programme of 12-night Mediterranean fl y-cruises aboard Queen Elizabeth. Passengers can join in Barcelona, Venica, Rome or Istanbul and Cunard president Peter Shanks says canny travel agents have boosted profi ts by selling add-on city stays. “For example, one agency is
combining the cruises with travel on the Orient Express”. Themed cruises: Celebrity
Cruises is wooing wine buffs with 12-night `Immersive Wine Cruises’ aboard Celebrity Infi nity. A 12-night themed sailing from Harwich on October 12 costs from £1,067pp (sharing an inside stateroom). Ports of call include Bordeaux, Bilbao and Porto (via Leixoes, Portugal) and shore excursion options will include vineyard tours and tastings. P&O Cruises’ 2013 line-
up of popular `Strictly Come Dancing’ sailings include several Mediterranean options. James
“2013 is a plateau year, but we never grow in a straight line - there are always jigs and jags”
Kotori in Montenegro is a natural choice
Jordan and Ola Jordan will be on Azura’s 17-night Mediterranean cruise departing May 31. All inclusive: Newly all-inclusive
Azamara Club Cruises will make the going easy for Mediterranean (and other) cruisers this year by including standard spirits, wines and beers in its cruise fares.
Where to book it AZAMARA CRUISES - 0844 493 4016
A 10-night all-inclusive fl y/cruise on Azamara Journey out of Barcelona, calling at Ibiza, Cassis, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Nice and Saint Tropez, costs from £2,607pp.
azamaraclubcruises.co.uk FRED OLSEN CRUISES - 01473 742424 A 12-night Balmoral cruise out of Southampton on August 11 featuring Tracy Edwards MBE as guest speaker calling at Lisbon, Alicante, Mahon, Gibraltar and La Coruna starts from £1,269pp.
fredolsencruises.com NCL - 0845 201 8900 Norwegian Epic’s seven-night Western Mediterranean fl y cruise costs from £1014 per person. Fly from UK, Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Marseille, Palma, Barcelona, fl y to UK.
ncl.co.uk
Jo Rzymowska, Associate Vice President and General Manager, UK & Ireland, Royal Caribbean International
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