DESTINATIONS RESTART | UK & IRELAND top tip top tip
Tune in to Travel Weekly’s Facebook Live event on board MSC Virtuosa on May 20 for the first look at the new ship on its maiden sailing around the UK. Details at: facebook. com/travelweeklyuk
MSC Virtuosa
UK CRUISES
Clients keen to see the British Isles from a fresh angle? Here’s who’s sailing and when:
May:MSC is offering three and four-night mini-cruises on Virtuosa from Southampton, plus longer sailings with ports of call. Viking’s new ship Viking V
Sopwell House, Hertfordshire
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Isabella Moroni, leisure sales vice-president, Europe “There is undoubtedly pent-up demand and we have seen a lot of interest in our smaller, more-boutique hotels as well as properties with larger public areas, such as Oatlands Park Hotel in Surrey and the boutique spa retreat Sopwell House in St Albans. “For clients seeking to book, I would suggest looking at some of our new openings, many of which still have good availability. They include The Guardsman, Middle Eight and The Londoner, all in prime spots across London, and Haycock Manor, a chic retreat opening in June in Cambridgeshire. “In terms of trends, we’re seeing demand for
countryside and coastal hotels, and for smaller cities
such as York, with bookings being confirmed either very last-minute – often within a week of departure – or far ahead into next year.”
Awaze (parent company of Hoseasons) Simon Altham, group chief commercial officer “Everything we are seeing suggests it’s going to be a year like no other for the domestic holiday industry. Bookings for the year ahead are up 269% on this time in 2020, and trade bookings for October are up 172%. Demand means some prices have risen for popular locations and key booking periods, but that’s not the case across the board. There are still plenty of properties available in central areas of the UK, so agents would do well not to focus on the typically popular destinations.”
enus will embark on a seven-night cruise on May 22.
June: Marella Cruises, P&O Cruises and Saga Cruises all start domestic itineraries, along with new luxury line Tradewind Voyages.
July: Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Riviera Travel, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises will all join the mix, while Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Borealis and Bolette will sail for the first time.
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travelweekly.co.uk
August: Hurtigruten will sail two British Isles itineraries, while Virgin Voyages will run a series of three and four-night sailings on Scarlet Lady.
20 MAY 2021
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