Avalon adds eastern


Europe 2021 sailings Avalon Waterways has unveiled new European river cruises for 2021 featuring Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. Six destinations will feature for the first time, including the Black Sea port city of Constanta in Romania, Ilok in Croatia and Golubac in Serbia. The line’s expanded 2021 River Danube itineraries range from nine days from Bucharest to Zagreb to 16 days from Deggendorf


in Bavaria to Bucharest. avaloncruises.co.uk


DESTINATION


Tourist boards and hotels unveil training tools and webinars


Tourist boards and hotel groups have been introducing destination training for agents to study during lockdown. The Saint Lucia Tourism


Authority has introduced an hour-long weekly webinar for agents and operators on key selling points on Wednesdays. Upcoming topics include romance, families, wellness and nature. Palladium Hotel Group has


launched Palladium TV, which is accessible on its website and YouTube channel. Attractions specialist Legends


Attractions is hosting a series of webinars to showcase its portfolio to the trade, starting at 2pm on May 14. US tourist boards The


Arizona Office of Tourism and Destination DC have both launched online training programmes specifically for UK travel agents, as has Atlantic


Canada, through OTT. i Destinations, page 20


travelweekly.co.uk


Anthem of the Seas


CRUISE


Cruise lines roll out revamped sailings and flexible bookings


Ben Ireland


Cruise lines are gradually reintroducing itineraries as they create policies to help agents rebook cancelled customers for later this year and beyond. Royal Caribbean’s EMEA boss Ben Bouldin said


he was hopeful “some” sailings out of Southampton on Anthem of the Seas would resume in 2020 and has revised pricing for 2021 sailings to stimulate demand. Royal Caribbean Cruises has extended its Cruise


with Confidence cancellation policy through to April 2022 for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara. Cruises can be cancelled up to 48 hours prior to


sailings in return for a future cruise credit for the full fare on all bookings made by August 1, 2020, as well as existing bookings. In addition, the cruise operator has introduced a Best Price Guarantee allowing guests to change the


Wizz Air schedules summer flights


from Luton to Greece and Portugal Wizz Air has introduced a limited number of summer-sun routes from Luton. From June, the carrier will fly twice a week to Corfu, Rhodes and Zakynthos, three times a week to Heraklion, all Greece, and four times a week to Faro, Portugal, with fares from £25.99 one-way. It will add a service to Marrakesh in October, and has already


resumed flights to some eastern European destinations. wizzair.com


price and promotional offer on their reservation up to 48 hours before their cruise, while a new “lift and shift” option allows customers to switch their cruise to the same itinerary on a future sailing for the same fare, also up to 48 hours prior to sailing. Marella Cruises said it was hopeful three of its five


ships would be sailing by July. Marella Explorer is to operate from Corfu, Marella Explorer 2 from the UK and Marella Discovery from Palma, Majorca. Carnival Cruise Line plans to resume services on


August 1, with eight ships offering sailings from Miami, Galveston and Port Canaveral. Cruises elsewhere in North America remain suspended until at least August 31, with Australia and Alaska itineraries not due to return until later in the year, Carnival said. Oceania has launched what it called its Ultimate Sale


to stimulate 2021 bookings, while Cruise & Maritime Voyages is promoting a 42-night Amazing Amazon Voyage departing in January 2021.


Handshakes out, smiles in: Sandals


unveils post-virus hygiene regime Sandals has announced enhanced hygiene measures for when its properties reopen. The Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness includes an “all- encompassing 18-touchpoint practice” based on all points of guest contact. It will be introduced at all 15 Sandals and Beaches resorts, and staff will be asked


to smile and nod rather than shake guests’ hands. sandals.co.uk


14 MAY 2020 15


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