Cruise has cause for hope despite setbacks A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


Of all the industry’s sectors, cruise can certainly lay claim to being among the hardest hit by the pandemic. While there have been some tentative returns to service in Europe


and the Far East, and those are set to continue, the vast majority of the global fleet remains out of action. And with the ongoing pause, so an ecosystem around the world – from specialist agents to crew, port staff and excursions providers – continues to face an uncertain future. Despite these challenges, there remains an underlying bullishness among cruise chiefs that a bounceback will come, and that it will be strong when it does. Consumer confidence appears to be growing with the rollout of vaccines, especially as the demographic groups that remain core to many lines are likely to be among those first ready to travel.


And while future cruise credits will undoubtedly account for a proportion of that initial capacity


when it returns, leading lines insist the pipeline of new bookings is healthy too. Given the lack of clarity around the sector’s return, we debated whether to brand this week’s


issue of Travel Weekly as a Cruise Special Edition, as we have done in January for the past decade. But I’m pleased to say that debate was short-lived, with a wealth of activity and proactive trade support ensuring there remains plenty to write about and celebrate. Perhaps more than any other, the cruise sector has plotted its growth with agents firmly at


the heart of its strategy. As it returns, that relationship between outstanding product and expert advocates will be more crucial than ever.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS News 4, 6


Special Reports 10,12 News You Can Use 17, 18 Your Stories Agent Diary Destinations


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30-46


Trade upbeat for summer and beyond 4 Cruise chiefs buoyed by ‘huge demand’ 4 Trade seeks pathway out of quarantine 5 Shearings trust account; Azamara deal 6


Insurance ruling; Kuoni hub; Atas panel 8 Special reports


Ocean lines report late-year demand 10 Two river operators on 2021 prospects 12 Comment


Gordon McCreadie: Technology is key 14


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product


HAL, Royal, Silversea, Uniworld, NCL 17 Saga, National Holidays, Jet2.com 20


FRONTLINE Your Stories


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


agent diary Sharon Thompson: ‘Gotta have faith’ 24


FOLLOW US: travelweekly.co.uk @travelweekly


Strawberry Holidays’ Kate Holroyd links with blogger 22


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OSet up a webcast with mature travel experts to discuss how the older generation, the first to be vaccinated, will lead the resurgence of the market.


ORecorded sections of this week’s virtual Globe Travel Rewards with our generous suppliers who are giving away more than 40 fantastic prizes.


OEmbarked on a ruthless wardrobe clear-out – loads of bags are now ready for the charity shops!


competitions Win fam trips, flights and vouchers


Get Social Trusts, Tipto, travel corridors, vaccine 29


DESTINATIONS Cruise


Favourites: Eight of the best ports of call, from the domes of St Petersburg via the gondolas of Venice to the skyscrapers of New York 30


Ask the Experts: Marketing advice 38 Ocean Cay: Report from MSC’s island 40


Expedition: Your guide to new ships 45 short breaks


Verona: 48 hours in the Italian city 49 Ljubljana: Snapshot of Slovenian city 52


BUSINESS NEWS Al Baker: Vaccine is not an instant fix 54 Delta reports $15.6bn loss for 2020 54 Iata: Summer could yet be a success 55 Flights pick-up ‘probably after Easter’ 55 Norwegian Air axes long-haul flying 56


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 21 JANUARY 2021 3


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