NEWS ROUND-UP
COMMENT: “Consider also those in the 50-plus market who do not tick all the desirable health and wealth boxes” Debbie Marshall, page 32
U by Uniworld scraps 45 age limit ‘due to demand’
Harry Kemble
harry.kemble@
travelweekly.co.uk
Millennial cruise brand U by Uniworld has scrapped its age restriction just weeks before its two ships launch.
The younger-adult river cruise
brand was set up to target cruisers aged between 21 and 45. But the operator last week said
it was ditching the age restriction following feedback from the travel trade and customers. Two 120-passenger ships –
The A and The B – are due to set sail on their first official cruises on April 14 and 21 respectively. Chris Townson, Uniworld’s UK managing director, said: “Due to demand, U by Uniworld has expanded its soon-to-launch river cruises to all adult travellers seeking a new, active and immersive experience along the world’s most popular rivers. “Originally, U was specific in defining its target market, but has learned that the experience is less about a number, and more about attracting a new generation of adult travellers to river cruising. “The experience isn’t changing. We’re still taking river cruising
Silversea splashes out $70m to stretch Silver Spirit by 49ft
Silversea’s Silver Spirit has been split into two halves as part of a $70 million project to extend it by 49ft. The vessel, which launched in
2009, will come back into service on May 6 after being lengthened at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. The revamp will add 34 suites, a
DRYDOCK: Silver Spirit will have 34 extra suites after overhaul
larger pool deck and a new fitness centre. The Owner’s Suite will be completely overhauled.
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travelweekly.co.uk 15 March 2018 ROOFTOP BAR: The ships are designed to appeal to a new demographic
“The experience is less about a number and more about attracting a new generation of adult travellers”
into a whole new space, sailing on sleek, stylish ships, offering adventurous and action-packed itineraries, and celebrating each city’s vibrant nightlife.” The ships will still sail nine itineraries on the Seine, Rhine
and Danube, with overnight stops and longer stays in Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam and Budapest. The ships’ facilities are designed
to appeal to a younger demographic and feature rooftop lounges, yoga classes, silent disco and mixology classes. Ellen Bettridge, president and chief executive of Uniworld, admitted last year at the Clia River Cruise Conference that bookings from the UK had been “light” shortly after taking eight of its sailings off general sale to offer places to agents.
The ship’s capacity will increase
from 560 to 608 passengers. The revamp aims to mirror the
design of Silver Muse, Silversea’s latest ship. Silversea UK managing director
Peter Shanks said Silver Spirit would have “a new lease of life” once it came back into service and would “bridge [the gap] between the old and the new” vessels in the fleet. Silversea operates five traditional ocean vessels and four expedition ships.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Advantage lines up CBS hack Greenberg as speaker
CBS travel journalist Peter Greenberg is to speak at the 2018 Advantage Travel Partnership conference in Miami. He will join Advantage chairman Steven Esom on stage at the May 10-13 event.
MSC Cruises recruits Elgie for northern sales role
Amanda Elgie has been appointed to the new role of regional sales manager for the northeast and Yorkshire for MSC Cruises from April 3. Elgie is business development manager at Collette Travel and previously worked at AmaWaterways. The line is also creating a sales position in Ireland following a restructure.
Disney Magic to call at Belfast on 2019 UK cruise
Disney Cruise Lines’ Disney Magic will dock at Belfast for the first time next year. The ship will visit the Northern Irish city as part of a seven-night British Isles cruise in September 2019.
Blind operator Latif to speak at Broadway event
Traveleyes founder Amar Latif is to speak at Broadway Travel Group’s 70th anniversary conference at the five-star Sheraton Riviera Hotel in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from October 14-17. Latif, who is blind, runs the tour operator for blind and visually impaired travellers and presents Channel 4’s How to Get Fit Fast.
Abta signs up to alliance championing human rights
Abta has signed up to the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism, an alliance of civil society organisations, operators and travel associations dedicated to respecting human rights. It is supporting members to manage human rights in their operations and supply chains.
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