CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE


Tui focuses on UK market with river cruise venture


Harry Kemble harry.kemble@travelweekly.co.uk


Tui River Cruises’ debut programme will operate adult- only itineraries and be available exclusively to the UK market.


The travel giant announced


it was entering the river cruise sector last week with three 155-capacity ships. The ships will be refitted and


renamed Tui Maya, Tui Isla and Tui Skyla after they come under the


control of the new line in October. Each vessel will offer between 75 and 80 cabins in three categories – standard, superior and suite class – as well as single cabins. The suites will feature balconies. The programme will go on sale on April 25 and offer 19 itineraries from next summer. The lead-in price for a seven-night sailing is £1,099, including tips and service charges. The ships will sail along the Danube, Rhine, Main and Moselle. Chris Hackney has been


promoted from Marella Cruises managing director to UK & Ireland cruise managing director, adding the new brand to his remit. He said conversations with


third-party agent partners were


Seabourn unveils details of two luxury expedition vessels


Seabourn has revealed details of the public spaces on board its two purpose-built, luxury expedition ships. The Expedition Lounge, Atrium,


Discovery Center and Landing Zones will act as the communal


SEABOURN VENTURE: Interiors will feature rich wood and leather


DANUBE: The ships will offer itineraries on four European rivers The refit of the three vessels will


“This is just the start for us. In terms of how big we get, it depends on [consumer] appetite”


taking place, and that Tui had set up a training programme to help agents – both in-house and third- party – to learn about the new line. Each ship will feature two


dining rooms and alfresco barbecue restaurant, as well as a small spa area and whirlpool bath.


take place this winter. The revamp will also involve the addition of a second bar that will serve coffee by day and cocktails by night. Every guest will receive a £120


credit for excursions including bike tours, cookery classes and sightseeing tours. Hackney hinted that the group


would add more ships to the fleet. “This is just the start for us,” he said. “In terms of how big we get, it depends on [consumer] appetite at


this stage – we have just launched.” tui.co.uk/cruise


hub on Seabourn Venture and a yet-to-be-named sister ship. The vessels are due to enter


service in June 2021 and May 2022 respectively. The Expedition Lounge will


feature large touchscreens that will display photos, navigational and weather charts, and maps. Guests will be able to attend


daily lectures and briefings in the Discovery Zone.


STAR BREEZE: Refurbishment will include addition of 50 suites


Each vessel will feature two Landing Zones, which will provide access to 24 Zodiacs. In addition to the public spaces, designer Adam D Tihany will also be responsible for the passenger areas on board each ship. Seabourn president Richard


Meadows said materials such as leathers and rich woods would be


used for the ships’ public spaces. seabourn.com


18 April 2019travelweekly.co.uk25


Windstar to invest $250m on revamping three of its six ships


Windstar is removing three ships from service for a  million refit. The small-ships line will


renoate half of its fleet  Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride  in turn etween ctoer 2019 and November 2020 at the Fincantieri shipyards in Trieste and Palermo, in Italy. The addition of 50 suites will


boost the capacity on each of the three former Seabourn ships to 312 passengers. ach essel will e fitted


with a rand wner’s uite incorporating three separate suites, which will accommodate up to seven guests. A new propulsion system is designed to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, supporting the company’s goals of travelling with a “softer environmental footprint”. The line’s president, John


Delaney, said: “This is the biggest investment and expansion in Windstar Cruises’ history.” windstarcruises.com


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