Cruise prices tipped to remain strong Josie Klein


Cruise pricing is likely to remain at current levels following a “very welcome year of yields”, according to the managing director of Bolsover Cruise Club. Michael Wilson predicted


prices would be maintained and emphasised how well the UK market had performed this year despite cost-of-living and inflation pressures. “I don’t see prices going down


– and I hope they don’t because this year, the increase in yields has been very welcome,” he told Travel Weekly during a webinar hosted by Royal Caribbean. Despite a successful year,


Iglu.com chief commercial officer


David Mills called on cruise lines to help agents boost efficiency in such a “complex sector” by providing more package options. “Retailing cruise is a complicated


business, which is why specialists tend to do very well,” he said. “Whether you’ve cruised 1,000


times or never before, there’s a lot to think about, so anything we can do to reduce those hurdles is a good thing,” he added. “Package it up and make it easy to book. It doesn’t mean that products can’t be separated.” However, Hays Travel strategy


director Lisa McAuley encouraged agents to balance selling pre- packaged and self-package holidays, saying “people want more than just a flight and a cruise”.


Israel-Hamas war impacts holidays, cruises and flights


Travel Weekly reporters


The greatest eruption of violence in Israel in decades threatens to curtail travel to the country. Up to 60,000 British nationals


are in Israel, the UK government estimated on Tuesday, as the death toll following the weekend’s attacks by Hamas and the Israeli military’s reprisals approached 3,000. Travel companies and cruise


lines sought to update clients, as the Foreign Office advised against all but essential travel. Israel’s Ministry of Tourism


provided a tourist hotline via WhatsApp (+972-55-972-693)


4 12 OCTOBER 2023


and email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il), pledging: “We’ll provide all necessary assistance to those who need it.” British Airways and El Al


continued to operate flights between London and Tel Aviv as Travel Weekly went to press. However, carriers including easyJet and Virgin Atlantic suspended their services. A spokesperson for BA said:


“We continue to monitor the situation and have introduced a flexible booking policy. Flights are currently planned to operate with adjusted departure times.” Cruise lines also announced


changes. Royal Caribbean Group said it is adjusting several itineraries, adding: “Our security team is closely


watching the situation. Impacted guests are being notified directly.” Celestyal Cruises suspended


all calls to Israel until the end of November. The move affects the seven-night Three Continents itineraries departing on October 21, 28 and November 4, 11, 18 and 25. The company said it would monitor the situation after that. Celestyal chief executive Chris


Theophilides said: “We wish for the safety of everyone and a rapid return of peace. We’re in close co-ordination with the authorities.” MSC Cruises cancelled


MSC Musica’s call at Haifa on October 12. It will replace calls to Haifa


on October 19 and 26 with Rhodes, and on November 2 with Marmaris. MSC Sinfonia will stop at Bodrum on October 16 instead of Haifa. Sharon Thompson, director of


Thompson Travel in Portadown, said a group due to travel to Israel next week would now go next year. She added: “I’ve spoken to our


ground handler in Israel and they and their families are safe. We trust the situation resolves soon and no more innocent lives are lost.” The war between Hamas and Israel


came as a surprise. Last month, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan declared: “The region is quieter today than it has been in two decades.”


travelweekly.co.uk We’re so well sold


this year that there literally haven’t been the cabins for us to be able to do fam trips


“I am not sure we would


necessarily want Royal Caribbean to [package holidays] because for those of us who’ve got tour operating arms, that’s where our specialism comes in,” she said. McAuley highlighted the “huge


challenge” agents face to understand the differences between cruise lines alongside other holiday types, saying lines “cannot


underestimate” the workload that goes into educating the trade. Stuart Byron, director of sales


at Royal Caribbean International, pledged to work with agents to “optimise” business, but said the line was facing a “double-edged sword” with such a strong booked position prohibiting fam trip opportunities. “Last year, we had a lot of


opportunity to get agents on board and experience the brand as part of our return to service. But we’re so well sold this year that there literally haven’t been the cabins for us to be able to do that,” he said. “We’re really keen to make sure


we’re working with agents to optimise business and that we continue to build opportunities for everyone.”


PICTURE: Shutterstock/ Wirestock Creators


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