CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE
NEWS IN BRIEF
Celebrity Cruises cleared to host same-sex weddings
Celebrity Cruises can now hold same-sex marriage ceremonies following a referendum in Malta where many of its ships are registered. The operator’s Celebrity Weddings programme offers onboard ceremonies and destination weddings. celebrityweddings
Ponant features 69 cruises in winter 2018-19 range
Ponant has unveiled a brochure for winter 2018-19, offering 69 cruises. The company, celebrating its 30th anniversary next year, will operate 27 polar expeditions and 18 tropical expedition cruises. Ponant’s new Explorer-class ships – Le Lapérouse and Le Champlain – will also be launched next year.
ponant.com
Carnival Horizon to feature Smokehouse barbecue
Carnival Cruise Line will introduce a barbecue venue on Carnival Horizon, its new ship due to enter service next spring. The 138-seat Smokehouse will be located alongside the ship’s promenade. Its introduction is being overseen by Guy Fieri, a member of the American Royal National Barbecue Hall of Fame.
carnival.com
Royal simplifies fly-cruise bookings with AirWaves
Amie Keeley
amie.keeley@
travelweekly.co.uk
Royal Caribbean Cruises is to roll out a new booking platform which encompasses flights, transfers and hotels to all agent partners following a successful trial.
AirWaves was tested by more
than 350 agents in August and September and helped drive 2,000 more bookings compared with the same period last year, according to the cruise giant. The technology, which was
developed in-house, will be available for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. The platform allows agents
350
Number of agents who trialled AirWaves
to book cruise packages on one platform and displays different airlines and flight. Previously, agents had to use multiple sites to package up cruises. The trial included high street
cruise specialists, homeworkers and luxury agents, and was Royal’s largest-ever trial with agents. Amanda Darrington, Royal Caribbean International’s sales director for the UK and Ireland, said AirWaves would help attract new-to-cruise agents because the
The slide is high: Royal releases photos of Symphony of the Seas
Pictures of family suites on Symphony of the Seas have been revealed by Royal Caribbean International for the first time. The two-level suite (pictured) will feature a home cinema, whirlpool bath – and even an in-room slide. Robotic bartenders and theatre shows will also feature
on the line’s 25th ship, which is set to launch in April 2018. Symphony will be Royal’s fourth Oasis-class vessel. It
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emeraldwaterways.co.uk
will be able to carry 6,870 passengers and lay claim to being the world’s largest cruise vessel by tonnage. Entertainment will include popular Broadway show Hairspray, Royal’s first musical at sea. It will also boast the tallest slide at sea, Ultimate Abyss (pictured), which will rise 150 feet above sea level. For its inaugural season,
Symphony will operate mostly seven-night sailings in the western Mediterranean with ports of call including Barcelona, Palma, Marseille, Florence, Rome and Naples. From November 24, 2018, it will reposition to Miami.
32
travelweekly.co.uk 19 October 2017
platform simplified the booking process for fly-cruises. The site features 60 hotels,
transfer options and access to low-cost flights from more than 30 airports across the UK. It is also integrated with Google
Maps and includes images of all the lines’ ships. Celebrity Cruises sales director
Claire Stirrup said some small adjustments had been made to AirWaves following feedback from agents but overall the trial had been “very positive”. A full training programme will
be rolled out by the lines’ sales managers and webinars will be available in due course. Espresso, Royal’s existing book-
ing platform, will be phased out.
cruisingpower.com
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