WTM CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE


NEWS IN BRIEF


AmaWaterways’ new ship will give river the Elbe Low water levels on the Elbe have prompted AmaWaterways to change plans for forthcoming ship AmaKristina. The vessel, set to launch on April 1, 2017, was due to operate on the German river but will instead sail on the Main, Rhine and Danube. Speaking at WTM, co-owner Kristin Karst said: “The river is always very shallow but this year the water levels have been lower and a lot of sailings for other companies were affected. It would be unfair to customers to offer sailings which may not happen.” amawaterways.co.uk


Celestyal Cruises adds calls in Crete and Lesbos


Hollie-Rae Merrick hollie@travelweekly.co.uk


Celestyal Cruises is introducing new ports of call for 2016 as it looks to sail to a wider spectrum of Greek destinations.


The line, which specialises


in Greece and was previously known as Louis Cruises before rebranding last year, will sail to Nafplion in mainland Greece, Chania in Crete and Mytilini in Lesbos. The ports have been introduced


Avalon vows to invest in


the trade after a ‘flat’ 2015 Avalon Waterways is looking to achieve double-digit growth in the UK following a “flat 2015”. The line’s managing director, Patrick Clark, blamed this year’s flat performance on extra capacity and competition. He said to boost growth the line would invest more in the trade, with several fam trips planned for next year. The line’s new Asia brochure features sailings on the Mekong and Irrawaddy. avaloncruises.co.uk


Tourico names Viking as


its first river cruise partner Tourico Holidays has bolstered its cruise offering by signing its first deal with a river cruise line. The US-based wholesaler announced at WTM a new partnership with Viking River Cruises, taking the number of cruise lines it works with to 15. Tourico has appointed Lori Sheller as vice-president of cruise development. touricoholidays.com


Asia specialist Pandaw River Expeditions is actively targeting the family market for the first time. The line has always welcomed


families but next year will operate its first family-focused cruises on four departures. The first is the Burma to Mandalay Pagan Packet itinerary departing on July 30 and December 24. The seven-day itinerary leads in at £1,070.


26 travelweekly.co.uk 12 November 2015


ON STREAM: River specialist Pandaw is targeting families


The line is also making the


July 31 departure of its Halong Bay and the Red River a child-friendly cruise, as well as the seven-night Classic Mekong cruise which will set sail on August 6. Shore excursions will be tailored


for itineraries on Celesytal Nefeli, the newest ship in the fleet. The sailing will depart from Izmir on several dates in May next year. Speaking at World Travel


Market, Frosso Zaroulea, the line’s communications manager, said: “We are still the Greek specialist, and offering ports that other cruise lines can’t is what sets us apart.” Celestyal Cruises is also offering


its first European winter sailing. The seven-day Three Continents cruise will call in Turkey, Israel and Egypt,


Pandaw introduces four family-focused sailings for 2016


NEW! LESBOS: The Greek island is a new port of call for Celestyal next year


with the first sailing in November 2017 on Celestyal Olympia. To attract more UK bookers, the


Greek specialist is also offering all-inclusive drink and shore excursion packages on all Greek and Turkey cruises in 2016. Zaroulea said Celestyal was


working with more agents in the UK than ever before. The line now sells half of its cruises through the trade, up from 40% in recent years. Zaroulea said: “The number of


passengers from the UK hasn’t increased but we are selling through the agent community more and that’s important. Through working more with agents we believe we will grow our customer base next year.” The line’s passengers come


from North America (30%), Latin America (22%), Greece and Turkey (21%), and the rest of


Europe, including the UK (19%). celestyalcruises.com


to families, with options such as cycling tours and cooking lessons. There will also be movie nights onboard. Children aged under four travel


free if sleeping in a cot. The price for children aged four


to 18 is half of the adult fare. During WTM, Pandaw also announced a new ship sailing on the Irrawaddy. The Kha Byoo Pandaw will join the fleet next February as its 14th vessel. The ship will have nine


staterooms and will operate the seven-night Mandalay Pagan


Packet cruise, leading in at £1,250. pandaw.com


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