Saga to host 500 agents on Spirit of Discovery ship


Harry Kemble harry.kemble@travelweekly.co.uk


Saga is to invite more than 500 agents on board new ship Spirit of Discovery next year as it looks to expand its third-party distribution.


Iain Powell, who became Saga’s head of trade sales for cruise and holidays in January, wants to reach more agents by hosting shipyard visits and an overnight tour of the vessel. Forty agents will visit the Meyer


Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, during two trips in October and November. Powell is also planning to


invite hundreds of agents on a ‘sneak peek’ overnight stay on the 999-passenger capacity vessel in the UK in June 2019. The tour of Saga’s first new-


build ship will take place at either Dover or Southampton, three weeks before Discovery launches. A second new ship, Spirit of


Adventure, will start sailing in summer 2020.


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NEWS IN BRIEF


European Waterways cuts some 2018 prices by 20%


European Waterways is offering up to 20% off charter and cabin prices for selected spring and summer sailings on La Belle Epoque, Panache and Finesse for bookings made by May 14. europeanwaterways.com


Fred Olsen offers saving on ocean and river sailings


IAIN POWELL: ‘It’s an opportunity to showcase where Saga is going’


Powell said: “[The tour] is an opportunity to show Discovery off to the trade and showcase where Saga is going. “It’s a big leap for Saga because


they are new-build ships. “We are determined to get more


than 500 people to see Discovery next June – that’s the plan.” “Top sellers and key partners”


will be invited on the ship visit in June, but Powell indicated that places could also be secured in other ways.


RIVER TRIVIA: Scenic’s fantastic preview launch offer ends April 30. Your customers can book their 2019 European river cruise and save £1,000 per couple, and enjoy free private door-to-door chauffeur transfers. Five-star all-inclusive luxury river cruises from just £1,720pp (eight-day Iconic Danube cruise). scenic.co.uk


Marella to emit aromas during shows on new ship Explorer


New Marella Cruises ship Marella Explorer will feature 12 new shows when it launches next month. They will range from Cogs, an


adult fairy tale featuring music from the likes of Metallica and Bowie, to a Latin dance show. Two of the shows are 4D


productions, with scents being released into the lounge before


26 travelweekly.co.uk 19 April 2018


COGS: Will feature music by David Bowie, Metallica and more


and during the performance. A festival-themed production will recreate moments from


“We are looking to reach more


people,” he said. Powell, who previously worked as a business manager within the national travel partnerships team at Carnival UK, would not reveal the agencies he had been talking to. But he said: “The new ships are


five-star luxury boutique – they fit the luxury market particularly well. “The average selling price is


more than £3,000, but with the new


ships, we see that going only up.” travel.saga.co.uk/saga-trade.aspx


Fred Olsen Cruise Lines passengers can save up to £400 on ocean sailings and up to £300 on Brabant river itineraries on all bookings on selected sailings made before July 2. The lead-in price for the nine-night German Waterways with Kiel Week cruise, departing June 21 from Dover, is now £999. fredolsencruises.com/travel- agent-centre


CroisiEurope launches one ship, redesigns two others


CroisiEurope is launching one ship, Elbe Princesse II, and relaunching two others, Van Gogh and Renoir, this spring. The latter two have been redesigned to become premium class ships. Elbe Princesse II will cruise on the Elbe and Vltava rivers between Berlin and Prague. croisieurope.co.uk


Woodstock and Glastonbury, with the smell of freshly cut grass enveloping the audience. Hit songs from films such as


Back to the Future, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Jaws will feature in a Movies production, during which the scent of popcorn will be emitted.


During the school summer


holidays, a 13th production, called Cruise Ship Investigation, will be put on for children three times a week, featuring three 15-minute interactive detective- style investigations. tui.co.uk/cruise


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