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Star Pride


Virgin Voyages unveils comedian Jack Whitehall for Comedy Fest


Virgin Voyages has opened bookings for its Comedy Fest cruise, headlined by Jack Whitehall. The six-night event sails from Portsmouth to La Coruña, Bilbao and Bordeaux on August 30, with cabins starting at £2,032. The adult-only line has also unveiled a 17-night Panama Canal crossing and its winter 2026-27 programme which includes five-night Caribbean cruises. virginvoyages.com


Windstar to sail 13 Caribbean and Latin America itineraries


Windstar Cruises has launched 13 itineraries for its Caribbean and Latin America season in 2026-27. The 148-passenger Wind Star


and 312-passenger Star Pride will operate the sailings in the region. The 18-day Star Collector:


Reefs & Rainforests and seven- day Costa Rica & Panama Canal itineraries will return for the season on Wind Star. The vessel will also sail a


25-night Southern Caribbean Thanksgiving Jubilee on November 10, 2026, from Lisbon crossing to Barbados and cruising in the Caribbean before heading to Colombia and Panama. Prices start from £2,301 for


a seven-night Windward Islands Surf & Sunsets sailing departing on January 3, 2027, or for a seven- night San Juan & the Virgin Islands sailing departing January 10, 2027. windstarcruises.com


Crystal speeds up payments to agents


Crystal is accelerating commission payments to agents – they will now be paid 30 to 50 days before departure or final payment. Commissions will be sent out once a booking is paid in full and within a 100% penalty period. It will be applied retroactively to all existing, qualifying standard bookings that were paid in full within the 100% penalty period. crystalcruises.com


22 20 FEBRUARY 2025


Quark Expeditions publishes Antarctica 2026-27 schedule


Ella Sagar


Quark Expeditions has launched its Antarctic 2026-27 programme, which will include the debut of all-suite ship World Voyager. The polar specialist will operate 13 itineraries with


43 departures. World Voyager will be designed to break sea ice


for polar exploration and will have a state-of-the-art presentation theatre and Science Hub on board. The 168-passenger all-balcony expedition ship,


will operate a new 11-day Antarctic Marine Mammals: The World of Whales and Seals expedition sailing on March 5, 2027, departing from Buenos Aires. Passengers on the sailing will help research species


including minke, humpback and fin whales through portable hydrophones. Prices start from $13,089. The cruise forms part of the line’s new Science & Discovery Program, which will enable passengers to


engage with scientists, researchers and the expedition team to collect and record data on wildlife and environmental conditions. The cruise operator also has a partnership with the Friedlaender Lab at the University of California in San Diego. Quark Expeditions has also unveiled a new 14-day


itinerary called Antarctica by Helicopter: Crossing the Circle & the Peninsula, which starts at $15,825. Passengers will have the chance to cross the


Antarctic Circle in an Ultramarine helicopter, with two flightseeing trips and one heli-landing below the Antarctic Circle. Other sailings include the 11-day Antarctic


Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent, priced from $8,546, which will offer passengers the chance to take part in a camping experience. A ‘booking bonus’ is offered for reservations made


by May 31. quarkexpeditions.com/antarctic/new-season


travelweekly.co.uk


Incoming ship World Voyager


Holland America Line launches sailings with The History Channel


Holland America Line has partnered with The History Channel for a new series of itineraries and excursions. The seven-day Mediterranean Marvels of Pompeii, departing on July 19, 2026, is priced from £1,099, while excursions on the 11-day Greece & Egypt with History Channel voyage include the Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and the Pyramid of Sakkara. hollandamerica.com


PICTURE: Roger Paperno


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