Cruise Trade News January 2014

ISSUE 45 | January 2014 | £3.75

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2 | CRUISE TRADE NEWS | ISSUE 45 | JANUARY 2014DISCOVER MORE BY LAND & SEA

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WELCOME | CTN

3JANUARY 2014 | ISSUE 45 | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

Letter from the EditorCautious optimism appears to be

the phrase being bandiedaround as we enter the new year

and this appears to accurately reflect themood across the industry.

No-one is getting carried away quiteyet but there is a sense of improvedeconomic confidence and an upturn inconsumers’ spending power.

Christmas outlay hit record levels inmany retail sectors which suggests thereis more disposable income around aswe enter the crucial so-called ‘wave’turn of year booking period.

The cruise sector must now ensureit attracts its share of January/Februaryholiday spend and there are no shortageof offers being made available to temptconsumers.

New style TV advertising fromP&O Cruises, an innovative money-back scheme from Fred. Olsen CruiseLines and a range of temptingincentives from the likes of RoyalCaribbean International and CelebrityCruises are helping push cruise to thefront of mind.

Yet competition from land-basedholiday companies has never beenfiercer as they also sense an upswing in

consumer optimism. Now is the timefor cruise to punch above its weight interms of positive PR and promotionalactivity.

This month’s new cruise show fromThe Telegraph in London will helpraise the profile of cruise holidays aswill the arrival of Norwegian CruiseLine’s Norwegian Getaway inSouthampton en-route to its home portof Miami.

Agents must play their part tosecure early bookings in order to avoidthe kind of cut-price deals which wereso damaging in 2013, as CTN’s newindustry and agent columnists point outin this issue (see pages 46-47).

With the absence of negatives suchas Costa Concordia and shipbreakdowns to contend with, theindustry is entering 2014 with arenewed sense of optimism. Long maythat continue.

Phil Davies [email protected]

It would be naive toexpect 2014 to suddenlybecome a boom yearfor cruise sales. But everyone I speak

to is crossing fingersfor an improvementover the heavydiscounting seen in thepast 12 months.

CONTENTS4-10 Cruise Industry News12-17 River Cruise News18-19Making Waves with Jo Rzymowska, Celebrity Cruises20-21 Celebrity Cruises 2014 update23-36 Mediterranean Cruising feature40-41 New to Cruise –Excursions42-43 Agent Training44 Technology News46 Industry Opinion with David Selby47 Agent Opinion with Claire Brighton48 Marie Celeste

Published by Cruiseworthy Media10 Tadorne Road, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 5TD, United Kingdom.Keith Ellis: Publisher/Managing [email protected]: +44 (0) 1737 812411Mob: 07802 256275

Trudy Redfern: Commercial [email protected]: 07766 426627Phil Davies: [email protected]: +44 (0) 1747 828695Jane Archer: News [email protected] Ellis Creative: Design & ProductionTel: +44 (0) 1444 [email protected]

Material in this publication is the copyright of the title publisher and may notbe reproduced without written permissionof the publisher.

Annual subscription (six issues) £22.50,including UK postage. Single issue £3.75post free. Details from the publisher’s office above.

CTN | WAVE NEWS

4 | CRUISE TRADE NEWS | ISSUE 45 | JANUARY 2014

Royal Caribbean International has launcheda new incentive giving agents the chance to win one of 16 places at the 2014 Brit Awards.

Created as part of the line’s turn-of-yearcampaign and inspired by news that Anthemof the Seas will be based in the UK from April2015, the B.R.I.T.S Awards requires agents tonominate their colleagues in one of six music-linked categories.

They are: Best breakthrough act (for thebest new-to-selling cruise agent); Bestproducer (for the best booker); Best solofemale (for the best female travel agent); Bestsolo male (for the best male travel agent);Special recognition (for commitment,dedication and enthusiasm); and Critic’schoice (for the best overall agent).

Nominations, in the form of a photo and150 words explaining why the candidateshould win, must be made on RoyalCaribbean’s agents’ Facebook page beforeFebruary 12.

Winners, who will also be treated to anight in London, dinner and drinks beforethe awards and VIP seats during theevening, will be announced on February 13.

Another 10 agents can win a place atthe Brit Awards by booking and confirming a2014 Royal Caribbean cruise.

Clients booking one of RoyalCaribbean’s cruises departing from the UKbefore February 12 gain benefits includingup to £500 onboard credit, free port car parking and a complimentary kids soda package.

P&O Cruises is offering up to £900 perperson onboard spending money withcruises booked before the end of February,with double the cash for solo passengerspaying a single supplement.

Calling the deal the line’s “most powerfulpromotion”, marketing director ChristopherEdgington said: “I think this is our best andmost tailor-made deal yet. Passengers havethe freedom to choose exactly how and wherethey want to spend their credit – from drinkson board to pampering spa and beautytreatments.”

The offer forms part of a high-profile turn-of-year campaign that started on Boxing Dayand includes new style TV advertising thatportrays the cruise line as a fun-loving holidaychoice for empty nesters.

The credit can be combined with P&OCruises’ Select Fare benefits, which includeeither more onboard spending money, carparking in Southampton for no-fly cruises ofseven-night or more, return coach travel toSouthampton or airport parking for fly-cruises.

The top £900 payout is for passengerswho book a suite on Aurora’s 2015 SouthAmerica & Pacific Adventure or Arcadia’s 2015full world cruise.

Passengers booking a suite on Ventura’s17-night transatlantic cruise from theMediterranean to the Caribbean departingOctober 22 will get up to £500 spendingmoney, while those taking one of Ventura’snew Mediterranean fly-cruises between Apriland October will receive up to £400 perperson.

Agent Brit Awardspromotion byRoyal Caribbean

Life of RileyFirstly, I’d like to wish you all a Happy NewYear, the very best for 2014. It heralds what Ihope will be a very prosperous andprofitable year for us all in the cruise sector.

As an industry we’re always striving to findnew and innovative ways to boost cruisefigures and with CLIA UK’s new structures inplace a change in tide is certainly on its way.In December I attended a meeting with themembers of the new consumer, PR and tradeworking groups; a structure that that will aimto push the profile of the cruise industry on anational scale to get customers cruising. And,with the opening of new CLIA offices inmainland Europe, industry information sharingis set to become more global.

My main New Year’s resolution around thebusiness in general is to make efforts incommunicating to customers about how greata cruise holiday is by focusing on three keyelements: destination, service and holidaymemories. These will make it easier to matchthe right customer to the right cruise line andship, having a beneficial impact on how yousell cruise to your customers, and bring to lifethe holiday of a lifetime.

With these thoughts in mind, now is a greattime to take advantage of new sellingtechniques.

This year’s Wave season offers are a greatchance to secure early bookings for summer2014, so don’t miss the opportunity to add anextra string to you bow by talking up thedestination variety, service on board, and theoverall cruise holiday experience.

The launch of Norwegian Getaway inSouthampton has been fantastic to plan and Icouldn’t be prouder of our ‘Try Before YouBuy’ scheme which is allowing many travelpartners to bring their top clients on board.There really isn’t a better closing tool thangiving customers first-hand experience of theproducts on offer, and we believe this, ourlatest Partners First initiative, is a big stepforward for the industry.

I wish you every success in 2014, and I lookforward to introducing Norwegian Getaway toyou very soon.

Until next time,

Francis RileyVice President and GeneralManager InternationalNorwegian Cruise Line

Low deposits from PrincessPrincess Cruises is offering free upgrades to balcony cabins as part of a ‘Make new memories’turn-of-year campaign that also includes shore excursion credit and a complimentary framedformal portrait photo.

The campaign, which runs until February 28, also includes low deposits of £99 per person andlead-in prices from £99 for a third and fourth person sharing a cabin with two other people. Offersapply to voyages around the world, from the Mediterranean to the Canary Islands and Hawaii.

UK director Paul Ludlow said: “Cruising has always offered excellent value for money, but withthe new lower deposit holidaymakers can now secure their 2014 cruise ensuring they get thesailing they want.”

To help boost bookings, Princess is offering agents the chance to win Red Letter Day-styleexperiences by sending the booking reference to [email protected].

P&O Cruises splashes cash

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is breaking newground with a money-back guarantee topersuade new customers to take their firstholiday at sea.

Under the Enjoyment Promise, valid forbookings until February 28, clients who havenever cruised with Fred Olsen who do notenjoy their holiday can ask to be flown home atthe cruise line’s expense and have their farerefunded in full.

The offer applies to cruises of betweenseven and 35 nights departing more than 14weeks ahead of the booking date. The flighthome must be requested within 48 hours ofstepping on board the ship.

Sales and marketing director NathanPhilpot said the promise was in response toMintel research that showed more than 12million adults are considering taking a cruise.

He said: “Typically, the barriers ormisconceptions for the 'yet to cruise' are fearof seasickness, the thought that cruise shipsare cramped, the high cost of drinks and

inflexible dress codes. We need to get morepeople on board to show them that thesebarriers are not real.”

The money-back promise is part of a four-pronged turn-of-year campaign, which also includes no-single supplements on selected2014/15 cruises, free UK transfers with 21 longvoyages for passengers who live within 250miles of the departure port and up to 30% offfor multiple cruise bookings.

The sale, valid on all 2014/15 departures ofsix nights or more, includes 10% off forpassengers who book one cruise, 20% off forthose who book two and 30% for those whobook three. To qualify, bookings must be madein the same transaction for cruises departingwithin 12 months.

Clients who have already booked a cruisein 2014/15 will receive 25% off if they book asecond cruise, or 30% off if they book a third.Members of the company’s Oceans loyalty clubcan save an extra 5% off the cost of cruiseswhen booked in advance.

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering discounts ofup to £500 per cabin for bookings madebefore February 17.

The savings are available on sailings of threenights or more in Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska,Hawaii and the Panama Canal that departbetween April 18, 2014 and April 19, 2015.

Sample savings include a seven-nightWestern Mediterranean fly-cruise on NorwegianEpic from £873 per person departing September14 and a nine-night Caribbean cruise onNorwegian Getaway from £1,234 per personincluding flights departing March 15.

A nine-night cruise to the Bahamas andFlorida from New York on NorwegianBreakaway starts at £1,288 per persondeparting December 7, 2014.

Director of business development UK,Ireland and Scandinavia Nick Wilkinson said thesavings provide agents with the tools to secureearly bookings.

“In 2014, for instance, the Panama Canalcelebrates its 100th anniversary and with up to£500 savings per stateroom, we are givingcustomers the perfect excuse to book thevoyage of a lifetime,” he said.

WAVE NEWS | CTN

5NEWS | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

NEWS IN BRIEF

Discounts lead Norwegian push

Money back pledge a‘first’ for Fred Olsen Celebrity Cruises’ 123Go campaign offers a

free classic drinks package worth up to $1,400,up to $300 on-board credit or free gratuities onselected voyages booked by February 28.Customers booking a cruise in Europe canchoose two of the benefits, while those opting for a voyage in Alaska, Bermuda or theCaribbean can pick one.›› Celebrity’s managing director Jo Rzymowskais Making Waves, p18-19.

Hurtigruten is offering 50% off selected voyagesalong the coast of Norway in January, Februaryand March. The two-for-the-price-of-one offerruns throughout January. Prices start from £472per person cruise-only departing March 15.

10% discount on shore excursions and faresfrom £89 per person for the third and fourthperson sharing a cabin are on offer in HollandAmerica Line’s Above and Beyond Wavepromotion in Europe. Clients booking cruisesfrom the UK on Ryndam can also claim free portparking at Dover. The offer runs until February 28.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages is offering discountsof up to 40% on cruises on Marco Polo,Discovery and Astor departing before May 2015.Sample no-fly prices include a four-night cruiseto Amsterdam on May 2 from £319 per personand a 14-night Northern Lights voyage on March16 from £969pp. Bookings must be made byMarch 14.

Seabourn’s Signature Savings offer freebalcony upgrades, up to 15% off combinationcruises and $1,000 on-board credit forpassengers booking penthouse and premiumsuites. The offer runs until February 28.

Titan Travel is offering up to £100 per person on-board credit on selected 2014 Saga cruises.Prices start at £393 per person and includeTitan’s port transfer service.

MSC offersupgradesMSC Cruises is offering free or low-costcabin upgrades to clients booking acruise before February 28.

Under the deal, customers booking an inside cabin on a Mediterranean orCaribbean cruise, or a no-fly voyage fromthe UK, will be upgraded to a balconycabin.

Bookings must be made by February28 and prices start at £499 cruise-only or£699 including flights.

January 14Norwegian Cruise Line’s NorwegianGetaway arrives in Southampton for twonights ahead of inaugural transatlanticcrossing to New York.

March 22Avalon Waterways dual christening ofAvalon Poetry II and Avalon Impression inDordrecht, Holland.

April 6Uniworld River Cruises launches newseven-night Bordeaux, Vineyards andChateaux cruises on the Gironde,Garonne and Dordogne in France.

May 22-23Clia UK & Ireland Selling Cruiseconvention in Southampton. An optionalday of ship visits is available on May 24.

June 670th anniversary of D-Day.

June 11Oceania Cruises’ Insignia to berechristened in Istanbul.

July 28100 years since the outbreak of World War One.

August 13Happy birthday Minerva. Swan Hellenic is60 years old this month.

August 15Centenary of the Panama Canal.

October 15Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis ofthe Seas picks up passengers inSouthampton for a transatlantic cruise toits Fort Lauderdale homeport.

November 2Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seaspicks up passengers in Southampton for amaiden transatlantic cruise to New Jersey.

CTN | NEWS


The new UK boss of MSC Cruises has promisedagents that they can trust him not reduce theircommission.

Giles Hawke, who was widely held responsibleby the trade for reducing Carnival UK’s commissionto 5% in 2012, said that was a reaction to thebusiness models at P&O Cruises and Cunard, andMSC Cruises was different.

Hawke took over as managing director at theItalian cruise line at the beginning of November andsaid his task is to increase per berth profitability. Hesaid: “MSC Cruises has seen massive growth inthe past seven or eight years but lost track ofrevenue. We were going for market share as weneeded to fill beds. Now we need the profit.”

Hawke said he wants to build on existing traderelations and sign new agent partners. “At Carnivalthere were issues over discounting and agentsgiving away commission. That is not a problem forMSC. We pay agents 10%-12% and there are noplans to change that.”

Hawke said he wants to revamp thecompany’s online training and move it away frombeing known for its Italian heritage, positioning itinstead as a Mediterranean product.

Hawke said: “Some 52% of Britons take their holidays in the Mediterranean. We need to

convey MSC’s Med values – the food, the mix ofnationalities, the entertainment – and make it moretangible to the British.”

He added: “We need to build the brand sopeople want to buy it and agents understand it is ahigh-value product. It comes down to educationand training.” Britains currently make up 5% ofMSC’s total business and Hawke wants to see thisdouble in two years.

Lirica ships to be stretchedAll four of MSC Cruises’ Lirica-class ships are to be‘stretched’ over the next two years as part of a€200 million ‘renaissance’ that will add 193 morecabins per vessel as well as new water parks,shops and entertainment venues.

The work will be carried out at the Fincantierishipyard in Italy starting with 2004-built MSCArmonia, which goes into dry-dock from August 31to November 17 2014. MSC Sinfonia, MSC Operaand MSC Lirica will follow, with the work to becompleted between January and November 2015.

A 24-metre section will be inserted into eachship, taking their total length to 275 metres andpassenger count from 2,069 to 2,680. Most of thenew rooms will have balconies. An extra 59 cabinsfor crew will also be added.

The Lido pool on Crystal Serenity has beenremoved as part of a $17 millionrefurbishment.

The work carried out on the CrystalCruises’ ship at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadizhas also seen the top Penthouse suites andthe self-service buffet remodelled.

Removing the pool has allowed Crystal tocompletely refurbish the Lido. The formergalleys and eating areas have been strippedout and replaced with new dining and lounge

areas that are divided up with living walls ofplants, herbs and olive trees.

A new Tastes restaurant has a bar and open kitchen, and is open for late breakfasts and light lunches. In the evening it becomes acasual evening eatery. There is also a grill andice-cream bar.

The previous self-service area wasdemolished and rebuilt with individual foodislands to replace long counters, more tables fortwo and an open kitchen with a bakery.

The four Crystal Penthouses were guttedand rebuilt in the style of an upscale Manhattanapartment. Key changes include moving thedining area closer to the floor-to-ceiling windowsand the private outdoor deck and a newden/library/media room in the former diningspace. The area also has a sofa bed and closet,so it can be used as a second bedroom.

Hawke pledges to support agents

Makeover for Crystal Serenity

2014 DIARY DATES

Orchestra heads to Australia MSC Cruises is going Down Under for the first time in 2015,offering a 33-night Grand Voyage from Dubai to Fremantle on MSC Orchestra. The voyagedeparts the United Arab Emirates on February 21 and visits India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia,Singapore and Bali, before arriving in Cairns, Australia. The ship will then visit Brisbane, Sydney(overnight), Melbourne and Adelaide, arriving in Fremantle on March 26, 2015.


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CTN | NEWS IN BRIEF


Royal Caribbean International will havecapacity for an additional 500 passengers percruise when Anthem of the Seas starts sailingfrom Southampton in April 2015.

The 4,180-passenger ship will be arriving inSouthampton straight from Meyer Werftshipyard in Papenburg in Germany where it isbeing built, replacing Independence of theSeas, which has been based in the UK everysummer since being launched in 2008.

Royal Caribbean vice-presidentinternational Dominic Paul said the decision to

bring the new ship to the UK, announced afternews that the company’s three brands were beingdivided into separate teams, underlined the line’sbelief in the importance of the UK market.

He said: “One-third of all British cruisers nowsail with Royal Caribbean. We believe in the UKmarket and felt it was time to take ourcommitment to the next level.”

Royal Caribbean International, CelebrityCruises and Azamara Club Cruises are now beingrun as separate businesses, headed respectivelyby Stuart Leven, Jo Rzymowska and Richard

A new Asian restaurant has opened on P&OCruises’ Arcadia as part of a majorrefurbishment that has also added 24 morecabins and extended the shopping area.

The new East restaurant, designed byMichelin-star chef Atul Kochhar, has replacedOrchid on deck 11. Like Kochhar’seponymous restaurant on Ventura, it is servinga mix of Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamesecuisine.

Arcadia’s new cabins include six singles,two of them with a balcony, which is a first forthe line. There are also 14 new balconycabins, three additional inside rooms and onemini-suite.

All cabins have new carpets, curtains andflat-screen TVs, and the Crow’s Nest has alsobeen refurbished, with new flooring, furnitureand lighting.

Additionally, the circular Globe lounge hasbeen closed off and encased to improvesound-proofing and provide a late-nightdancing venue that is designed not to disturbother passengers.

Freedom dining, allowing passengers todine when and with whom they want, is nowavailable in the upper level of the Meridiandining room. The lower level continues to offerfixed dining.

Anthem on song for Southampton

Tributes have been paid to former P&OCruises managing director Gwyn Hugheswho died before Christmas at the age of 65.

Hughes struck the first contract withThomas Cook to sell cruises in the early1980s as part of his almost 20 years with the line.

He went on to become chief executive ofeasyCruise for a year from 2005. He also helda number of positions in the travel sector.

David Dingle, chief executive officer ofP&O Cruises parent company Carnival UK,said: “I had the honour of working for Gwyn for14 years. He was a wonderful mentor andguide, and a truly great man. I, like so manyothers, owe him much, and he will be missedby so very many.”

Former ABTA chairman John McEwan,who was appointed managing director ofThomas Cook UK in 1984, said: “We enjoyeda very successful business and personalrelationship.”

Cabins addedin Arcadia refit

Cuba Cruise makes debutAfter four years of planning, Cuba Cruise departed Havana in December for its first voyagecircumnavigating Cuba.

The Calgary-based company has chartered Louis Cruises’ 1,200-passenger Louis Cristal forthe seven-night cruises, which are so far scheduled until the end of March and also visit Holguin,Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos and Punta Frances, all in Cuba, and spend a day in Montego Bayin Jamaica, which is an alternative embarkation port.

Prices start at $586 per person in February for seven nights cruise-only. An upgrade to an all-inclusive drinks package costs $294pp.

Twynam. Leven and Twynam have movedacross from airline, hotel and tour operatingbackgrounds, while Rzymowska was previouslyUK general manager and associate vice-president for all three brands.

Paul said Anthem will work well inSouthampton as it has a lot of indoor areaswhere passengers can retreat in case of wet orcold weather, especially Two70º, a large aftlounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and athree-storey bar that transforms into anentertainment venue after dark.

Also indoors, the ship will have dodgemcars, a roller-skating rink and Music Hall, a livemusic venue, while outside there is a skydivingsimulator, the North Star London Eye-likeviewing pod (pictured), a FlowRider wavesimulator and Royal Caribbean’s trademarkclimbing wall.

Anthem will be based in Southamptonalongside Adventure of the Seas, which isreturning in 2015 for a third season of no-flycruises. Itineraries go on sale early this year andare expected to include sailings to NorthernEurope as well as the Mediterranean.

Hughes tributes

NEWS | CTN

9NEWS | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

Thomson doubles up in CaribbeanThomson Cruises is basing a ship in Jamaicafor the first time in winter 2014-15, when itwill have two vessels in the Caribbean.

Thomson Dream, which traditionally sailsfrom Barbados, will instead be based inMontego Bay between December 2014 andApril 2015, while Thomson Celebration will bein the Caribbean for the first time, homeportingin Bridgetown, Barbados.

Each ship will be offering a selection ofseven-night cruises that can be combined toform a two-week holiday or bolted on to aweek in a hotel on Barbados or Jamaica.

Thomson Dream is sailing five newitineraries including Cuban Fusion, which callsat Playa del Carmen in Mexico and has anovernight stay in Havana. Mayan Treasuresvisits Roatan in Honduras, Belize City andCosta Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, whilePride of Panama ticks off Cartagena inColumbia, San Blas and Colon in Panama, and Puerto Limon in Costa Rica.

A new selection of excursions is offered togo with the cruises including cave-tubing inBelize, zip-wiring in Playa del Carmen, climbingthe waterfall at Dunns River Falls in Jamaicaand visiting the rainforest in Costa Rica.

Thomson Celebration is sailing threeitineraries from Bridgetown – CaribbeanTreasures, which includes port calls at StBarths, Antigua and St Maarten; TropicalDelights, which makes a maiden call at Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe; and Latin Gems whichticks off the Dutch ABC islands of Aruba,Bonaire and Curaçao. Prices start from £999per person including flights, transfers andgratuities.

Clients can fly to Jamaica and Barbadoson Thomson’s new 787 Dreamliner fromGatwick and Birmingham, and also fromManchester for those heading to Jamaica.Cruise-and-stay passengers sailing fromJamaica will also be able to add a week at theSensatori Jamaica, which opens in May 2104.

The head of TUI UK and Ireland’s Irishbusiness Helen Caron has taken the helmof Thomson Cruises.

She reports to former cruise managingdirector Fraser Ellacott, now TUI UKcustomer operations director.

Ellacott said: “We have an extremelysuccessful and popular cruise business inthe UK and as the third largest operator, itcontinues to play an extremely importantpart in our overall strategy.

“We have been focused on driving aprogramme of innovation and modernisationforward in the past few years and havedeveloped a successful brand strategy.

“I am delighted that I can hand thebaton over to Helen who will continue tostrengthen this approach and has done afantastic job of transforming our Irishbusiness.”

Former VirginHolidays Cruises bossRichard Twynam istaking over as the firstUK managing directorof Azamara ClubCruises.

He will lead a new10-strong team dedicated to the two-shipdestination-focused cruise line.

Twynam’s appointment follows parentcompany RCL Cruises Ltd splitting its UKand Ireland business into three from thismonth. He will work in partnership withRoyal Caribbean International managingdirector Stuart Leven and Celebrity Cruisescounterpart Jo Rzymowska.

Former RCL Cruises commercialplanning and analysis chief David Duffbecomes commercial director for Azamarain the UK while the brand also gains abusiness analyst and an air and inventoryteam member.

Twynam will also oversee a three-strongsales team and a marketingcommunications and PR manager. Thesales and marketing team will be supportedby a trade marketing executive.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Insignia to be rechristened

Port Points agent rewardsCruisingexcursions.com businessdevelopment manager Graham Chuterand travel trade sales executive MichelleBurge launch Port Points, an agentreward scheme that gives retailers twopoints for every £1 spent on excursions.These can then be redeemed for wine,sweets, restaurant vouchers, theatretickets and spa breaks.

Balconies added in two ship revampTwenty-six balconies are being added to Thomson Celebration as part of a fleet-wide investmentby Thomson Cruises.

Another 28 are being added to Thomson Majesty, with 19 to be fitted to Thomson Spirit. All will be available to book for sailings from November 2014. Thomson Dream already has sixbalcony suites.

TUI UK customer operations director Fraser Ellacott said: “A private outside space is importantto many and the investment we are putting into our fleet is clear from this enhancement.”

Oceania Cruises’ Insignia is to be rechrist-ened by its original godmother when itrejoins the fleet after a two-year stint sailingfor Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as Columbus 2.

The 684-passenger vessel will be returningto Oceania in May 8 after a multi-million-dollarrefurbishment that will freshen all thefurnishings and décor in the public rooms andcabins, and add a Baristas coffee bar.

Sister ships Nautica and Regatta will getsimilar makeovers in May and Junerespectively.

Insignia will be rechristened in Istanbul onJune 11 at the start of a 10-day voyage toPiraeus by Virginia Watters, wife of Oceania’sfounding chairman Joseph Watters. She first christened the ship in Monte Carlo inMarch 2004.

The vessel will spend the rest of the year inthe Mediterranean and sailing the Caribbean,before setting off on two 180-day voyages,The first departs Miami on January 10, 2015and sold out so fast that a second was added,departing Miami on July 8 next year.

CTN | NEWS IN BRIEF


Over-60’s specialist Fred Olsen Cruise Linesis looking to woo families with a new seven-night half-term city-break cruise to theContinent in 2015.

The voyage, on Balmoral, departsSouthampton on May 24 and visits Hamburg,Amsterdam and Antwerp, staying overnight inthe latter two cities. Prices start at £539 perperson cruise-only.

The sailing is one of several new voyagesfrom Southampton on Balmoral in summer2015. The vessel will also be running foureight-night cruises to the Norwegian fjords(one in May, two in July and one in August)that visit Stavanger, Bergen, Flåm and Olden,from where there are excursions to glaciersand a helicopter sightseeing trip.

A nine-night cruise on May 31 takes theship around the UK, while an 11-nightScandinavian city-break voyage departingJune 9 has overnights in Oslo andCopenhagen, and also visits Gothenburg andHelsingborg in Sweden, Skagen in Denmarkand Kristiansand in Norway. Prices for both itineraries start from £899 per personcruise-only.

A six-night France and Spain cruisedeparting August 2 takes Balmoral to Getxo(for Bilbao) in Spain, and Hendaye and LaPallice (for La Rochelle) in France, from £539per person. A 13-night cruise to the CanaryIslands on August 8 to coincide with thePerseid Meteor Shower, which is forecast tobe at its best during the night of August 12,costs from £899 per person.

Fred Olsen marketing director NathanPhilpot said the company is trying to create

new itineraries for passengers becausedestination rather than brand and ship is thekey selling point for cruisers.

He added: “We are working closer withthe destinations to give our guests the bestexperience when ashore.”

Boudicca refitA coffee shop was installed on Boudiccaduring a refit at the Lloyd Werft shipyard inBremerhaven at the end of last year. The firstvenue of its kind on a Fred Olsen ship, itserves speciality coffees, teas and chocolatesfor an extra charge. A grill restaurantalternative to eating in the dining rooms orself-service will be added this year.

Fred Olsen has published a new brochureaimed at the new-to-cruise market thatstrips out nautical jargon and featuresselected cruises with drinks-inclusive prices.Prices start at £510 per person.

Hurtigruten to sail from DoverHurtigruten is offering a one-off cruise to the Norwegian fjords from Dover in 2015.

Departing May 1, the ship Fram will visit Lysefjord and Stavanger, spend two days inHardangerfjord and Sognefjord, and also call at the small town of Skudeneshavn.

Prices for the 10-day ‘Fjords Highlights’ cruise start at £1,949 per person cruise-only.The line’s 2015 preview programme also features a new eight-day Arctic Explorer cruise from

Bodø to Kirkenes and back to Svolvær, the capital of the Lofoten Islands, where passengersspend two nights before returning to Bodø by ferry for the flight back to the UK.

Four departure dates in February and March 2015 are offered with prices starting at£1,579pp, including flights from Gatwick or Manchester, two nights in a hotel in Svolvær, a full daysightseeing tour in the Lofoten Islands and entrance into the Bodø Air Force Museum.

For clients who want to experience the company’s core Norwegian coastal cruise, there arenew charter flights from East Midlands, Cardiff, Newcastle, Dublin and Jersey in addition toexisting departures from Bournemouth, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Gatwickand Manchester.

Fly-cruise prices start at £999 per person for a five-day Arctic Highlights cruise round-trip fromTromsø to Kirkenes on March 16, 2015 and £1,415pp for a 12-day Classic Round Voyage fromBergen to Kirkenes and back departing between January and March 2015.

Fred Olsen makes bidto woo families

Compagnie du Ponant’s next new shipis to be called Le Lyrial. The vessel, thefourth in a line-up of 264-passengerships, will be built in Italy and is due fordelivery in the first quarter of 2015.

SeaDream Yacht Club will be offering itsfirst no-fly cruise from the UK on August16. The 14-night Baltic Capitals voyagesails round-trip from Dover and spendsthree days in St Petersburg. Prices startfrom £4,812 per person cruise-only. Onthe other side of the world, the cruise linewill also be visiting Papua New Guineafor the first time on a cruise from Cairnsto Bali in February 2014.

Travel agents booking groups withHolland America Line in 2014 have anincreased selection of incentives to offertheir clients including wine packages ortastings, free internet and shipboardcredits. Agents earn points to ‘buy’ theincentives based on the per person valueof their group bookings.

A new $250 million port for cruise shipsand yachts is being built in Jounieh in theLebanon, about 10 miles outside Beirut.Due to open in 2020, the facility will haveone berth for cruise ship and is part of astrategy to encourage more cruise linesto visit the country.

Celebrity Century is being transferred toParis-based Croisières de France, asubsidiary of Royal Caribbean, in spring2015. The ship’s Asia season has beencut short, with two new cruisesannounced to bring the vessel back toEurope in time for the handover. Thetransfer was announced by CDF and hasnot been confirmed by Celebrity.

Britain’s Andrew Fairlie is among a line-up of top-rated chefs making guestappearances on Seabourn Sojourn’sworld cruise. Fairlie, who runs the onlytwo Michelin-starred restaurant inScotland, will be on board from March 14-25.

Yoga teacher Christel Vollmer will begiving yoga and meditation classes onRoyal Clipper’s transatlantic cruise fromBarbados to Malaga departing April 2014and again on an autumn sailing fromLisbon to Barbados. The two dailyclasses, one in the morning and one inthe evening, will be held on the opendeck and are complimentary.


* These terms and conditions are in addition to Fred. Olsen’s standard Terms and Conditions that apply to all bookings. Fred. Olsen’s full set of Terms and Conditions are available on our website, www.fredolsencruises.com and on request. All offers are subject to availability, cannot be applied retrospectively and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. The Enjoyment Promise is only applicable to guests who have not cruised on a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (“FOCL”) ship before and for those booked on Freedom/Brochure Fares. It excludes cruises of 6 nights or less and cruises with a duration greater than 35 nights. Only applies to bookings made between 1st December 2013 and 28th February 2014, for departures more than 14 weeks ahead. You will need to inform Guest Relations within 48 hours of embarkation that you wish to leave the ship based on the Enjoyment Promise. FOCL will arrange and pay for a scheduled fl ight and transport back to the UK, as soon as practical and reasonable, subject to the vessel’s itinerary, with baggage allowance of 20kg. This promise is for fi rst time guests in the unlikely event that you do not enjoy the cruise and wish to return to the UK. If you do not return to the UK on the fl ight organised by FOCL and/or inform Guest Relations within 48 hours of embarkation, then we reserve the right not to refund you the cost of the cruise. Your return fl ight may be to any UK airport. FOCL is not responsible for any further onward costs to your home or originating port. Those unwilling or unable to fl y will not receive any refund and FOCL is not liable to fi nd alternative transport. The Enjoyment Promise only applies to guests who are contracted with FOCL and excludes bookings with 3rd party operators. FOCL will refund the cruise cost only (and fl ight costs if booked via FOCL only), but will not refund other costs including but not limited to transfers, insurance, car parking, on board expenditure and any other costs related to your holiday. Cruise Sale discounts available on Brochure and Freedom Fares only and not available on Suites. All cruises must be booked in the same transaction; if any of the cruises are cancelled, discount may revert to a lower level. E&OE.

For details see a travel agent, call 0800 0355 207or search for ‘Fred. Olsen’ online

Plus cruise with confidence with Fred.’s Enjoyment Promise, for new customers only*

We’re not the sort of company to boast about the great feedback we receive; we believe actions speak louder than words. That’s why we are proud that this year more than half our guests had cruised with us before. Our boutique yet spacious cruise ships make you feel at home the world over.

We’re so confident that a holiday with us will be a great experience that we’ll make you our Enjoyment Promise. If you haven’t cruised with Fred. Olsen before, you’ll benefit from our Enjoyment Promise when you book before 28th Feb and at least 14 weeks in advance on cruises of seven nights or more (and less than 36 nights). If you find that it’s not for you within a day or two of stepping on board, just let us know and we promise to arrange and pay for your flight back to the UK and repay the cost of your cruise (please read the terms below). So what’s stopping you?

The more you book, the more you save*

Book with Fred. Olsen now and you can save with our Cruise Sale offers. Enjoy 10% off your next Fred. Olsen cruise, with our compliments. Book two cruises at the same time and save 20% off both. Book three cruises at the same time and get 30% off all three – it’s as easy as that! All cruises must be over six days in duration; Anchor Fares and Suites are not included.

IN FRED. OLSEN,S CRUISE SALE30SAVE UP

TO

7 to 28 night sumptuous Mediterranean sailings


Cruise & Maritime Voyages is taking to therivers in 2014 with a programme of summersailings on the Rhine and Danube.

The company, which specialises in low-cost no-fly ocean cruising from the UK, haschartered the river cruise boat Vienna I for theprogramme, which starts with a seven-nightvoyage from Nuremburg to Amsterdam onMay 19.

CMV commercial director Chris Coatessaid the move into river cruising was on theback of questionnaires suggesting 80% of thecompany’s past customers would consider ariver-based option.

He said: “Our ocean-cruise programmeincludes many European ports situated onrivers. It is therefore a natural progression forCMV to add river cruises to our portfolio.”

Coates described Vienna I, which holds164 passengers, as a premium plus vesseloffering a high level of comfort and décor.

Some 85% of cabins have French balconies.Head of marketing Mike Hall added:

“The formula of travelling in a floating hotelthrough some of Europe’s most beautifuland interesting places is bound to appeal toour customers who enjoy scenic cruising.”

CMV is starting with just five departuredates between May 19 and June 16.

From Amsterdam, Vienna I will be sailinga 14-night voyage to Budapest departingMay 26, with a reverse itinerary on June 9.Both two-week cruises are also available asseven-night voyages to and fromNuremberg. Clients can also add pre andpost-cruise city stays in Amsterdam, Pragueand Budapest.

Seven-night cruise prices start at £1,199including flights, transfers, house wine andbeer with lunch and dinner, and a range ofhalf-day excursions, while 14-nightitineraries cost from £1,999.

CMV makes rivers splash

Olympic gold medallist Dr KatherineGrainger will christen Avalon Waterwaysnew Avalon Poetry II in a dual namingceremony with Avalon Impression inDordrecht, Holland, on March 22. Thenaming will be part of a four-day rivercruise for both vessels sailing fromCologne to Amsterdam on March 20-23.

Hamburg-based Sea Cloud has sold theRiver Cloud II to allow it to focus on its twoocean-going sailing ships. The companysaid increased competition in river cruisinghad made marketing River Cloud II“increasingly difficult”. The vessel will behanded over to new and as yet unnamedowners at the end of the 2014 season.

American Cruise Lines has startedbuilding two more river cruise ships to sailthe Mississippi River system and theColumbia and Snake Rivers. The first isdue to enter service in spring 2015, withanother two on order for launch by 2017.The company launched the Queen of theMississippi in 2012.

CTN | NEWS IN BRIEF

Return to NilecruisingTour companies have re-started Nilecruises are now Egypt is no longerbranded a no-go area by the Foreignand Commonwealth Office.

Discover Egypt has been one of thefirst companies to relaunch operationsafter the FCO lifted its advisory againsttravel in November. More than 50 Britishpassengers had booked the firstdeparture, on December 2.

Managing director Philip Brecknersaid: “This time of year is peak season forwinter sun seekers and our popular Nilecruise have been competitively priced tohelp kick-start interest.”

Prices start at £899 per person forseven nights including flights, transfersand 10 guided excursions. There are nosingle supplements throughout Januaryand February.

Breckner added: “Although it will taketime to rebuild consumer confidence,we’ve already finalised travelarrangements for those who had beenimpatiently waiting for the FCO advice tobe lifted.”

To help encourage tourism, Luxorgovernor Tarek Saad El din has promiseda raft of measures that include installingnew security cameras and private dockingstations for cruise ships.

More move into MyanmarChina specialist Wendy Wu has joined the growing line-up of companies with new cruises onthe Ayeyarwady in Myanmar in 2014.

The company’s 11-day Spirit of Burma holiday includes a day in Yangon and a seven-nightvoyage between Bagan and Mandalay with excursions to local villages, monasteries and temples.Prices start at £2,690 per person including flights.

Meanwhile, AmaWaterways is offering two itineraries on the new 56-passenger AmaPura,which launches on the Ayeyarwady in November.

A 13-day Golden Treasures of Myanmar cruise combines a 10-night sailing from Pyay toMandalay with three nights in Yangon, while the 15-night Hidden Wonders of Myanmar cruisesfrom Yangon to Mandalay. Prices start at £2,936 per person cruise-only including hotelaccommodation in Yangon, a transfer from Yangon to Pyay and local drinks with lunch and dinner.

An optional four-night post-cruise land extension is available on both itineraries, featuring threenights in Inle Lake and one further night in Yangon.

Sanctuary Retreats is launching the new 40-passenger river cruise boat Ananda on theAyeyarwady in December, offering eight itineraries ranging from a three-night break to 10-nightvoyages on the Chindwin River. Prices start at £1,368 per person cruise-only for three nightsdeparting December 3, 10 or 17, including soft drinks and local beer.

RIVERVIEW NEWS | CTN

13RIVER VIEW NEWS | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

Amadeus by Lüftner Cruises has ‘taken a huge step forward’ by launching its first-ever brochure featuring sterling prices.

Stuart Perl, whose Perl River Cruises company represents Austrian-based Lüftner in the UK, said the move was better for consumers and makes it easier to work with the trade.

He said: “There is a psychological barrier when pricing is in euros. People have to estimate the price and they don’t know what the exchangerate will be at the time of final payment.”

Perl claimed the sterling prices would enable Lüftner to work with the UK trade to build bookings from individual travellers. The company alreadyhas a solid following with groups’ organisers who are happy to work in euros.

He added: “We are offering an exchange rate of 1.20 euros to the pound, which makes prices look very attractive.”

Cruise-only fares start at £799 per person for seven nights sailing fromAmsterdam to Basle on October 30, 2014, while a 14-night voyage fromBudapest to Amsterdam on June 21 costs from £2,497pp.

Perl said: “Flight-inclusive prices will be helpful and that I think needs to be the next stage of development, once volumes increase sufficiently. Lüftneris very serious about wanting to increase its share in the UK market.”

He declined to reveal figures but said Lüftner saw a 107% increase in UK passengers in 2013 against 2012, while revenues were up by a largerpercentage, and more growth is forecast for 2014.

Perl said: “The Lüftner product works well for the UK. The price pointversus the service is good, and drinks (other than at dinner) and gratuities are not included so passengers are only paying for the things they want.”

Saddle up for 2014Eight-day bike-and-cruise holidays on the Rhine have been added to Lüftner’s 2014 brochure, which also features new voyages on the Mekongand Ayeyarwady.

The cycling holidays, available on five departure dates, are created bybolting a bike excursion package on to a cruise from Basle to Amsterdam.

The package is priced from £579, which includes the hire of the bike (e-bikes are available at extra cost) and for six guided tours of between 24km and 54km. Cruise prices start at £945 per person cruise-only departing April 18.

In Asia, a new eight-day Mekong Discovery cruise from Siem Reap inCambodia to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam includes two full days in PhnomPenh and starts at £1,753 per person departing September 21. A 10-dayMysterious Myanmar voyage from Pyay to Mandalay costs from £2,504 per person, also departing September 21.

Lüftner will be cruising on the Seine for the first time in 2015.

Sterling rates introducedin Lüftner brochure

Mekong Pandaw returns to servicePandaw River Expeditions’ Mekong Pandaw is back in service on theMekong after a $1 million refit that reduced the cabin count from 32 to24. The vessel’s cabins, which are now all outside, also have newbathrooms, air conditioning and sliding French windows onto thepromenade deck. Where the eight extra cabins used to be, there is alarger spa, new gym, lecture and movie theatre, and library.

�e World’s Best River Cruises

EUROPE | RUSSIA | CHINA | VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

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CTN | CLIA R IVER CRU ISE EXPO


Rivers ofopportunity

Agents need to learn to communicate withbaby boomers because these people havetime and money, and are fuelling the currenthigh demand for river cruising, according tothe head of Clia in the UK & Ireland.

Andy Harmer told agents attending theExpo that the generation born between 1946

and 1964 was the first to enjoy their youth, toexperience a boom in retailing, to travel to newdestinations and have index-linked pensions.

“They are important because they are theriver cruise customers of today and tomorrowand you have to communicate effectively to them if you want to win their business,” he said.

Some 14% more British holidaymakerstook a river cruise in 2012 than in 2011, to atotal of 130,000, making it the fastest-growingsector of the cruise industry. Some 90,000took a river cruise in Europe, where the Rhineand its tributaries were the number onedestination, attracting almost one-third of all passengers.

Harmer said baby boomers are

Around 120 agentsattended the third Clia UK& Ireland River CruiseExpo, held in Cologne forthe first time.

JANE ARCHER REPORTS

Clia UK & Irelanddirector Andy Harmer.

Bernadette Edwards, Langley Travel, Angela Waite,APT, Patricia Waterton, Langley Travel.

Agent delegates visiting the CologneTourist Board stand manned by Daniel

Letocha and Gregor Gosciniak.

RIVERVIEW NEWS | CTN

15CLIA RIVER CRUISE EXPO | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

modules at the end of January, one each forEuropean and worldwide rivers. A dedicatedriver cruise event is being planned in the UK inthe spring.

The River Cruise Line sales manager PaulSharp attributed the high demand for rivercruising to Viking’s multi-million TV advertising,“which has raised the sector’s profile”, and thefact that people can only “do Civitavecchia somany times” and are therefore looking forsomething new.

He said agents need to learn each rivercruise company’s USPs so they can pitch thecorrect brand at the right clients, but addedthat demand is primarily destination-driven.

“Sell the fact that more time is spentashore, learn about the shore excursions, and

create a sense of urgency to encourage clientsto book early. There are a lot of new shipscoming but capacity is still limited,” said Sharp.

eWaterways chief executive Daniela Wagner,who also heads the Clia river section committee,said the Brahmaputra in India was one to watchin 2014, and predicted that more cruisecompanies would offer itineraries that combinerivers, for instance the Rhine and Rhône orRhône and Gironde. She also forecast moreriver cruise companies would become all-inclusive, offer themed departures and alterativeincluded excursions.

Germany’s A’Rosa and the American QueenSteamboat Company were new exhibitors at theexpo, having just joined Clia UK & Ireland. Theytake the number of river cruise members to 14.

responsible for half of all consumer spendingin the UK and buy 80% of cruises. Each year,600,000 of them retire, so they also have thetime to travel.

“They see travel as a necessity, not aluxury, and seek off-the-beaten-trackdestinations, which is why the Mekong,Ayeyarwady and Yangtze in China are doingso well.”

He added: “They also need travelexperts, so become an expert in rivercruising. Take an interest in the sector, addvalue with hotels and transfers, andunderstand the differences between therivers.”

Clia UK & Ireland is launching two newdestination-focused river cruise training

Gaynor Harrison and Caroline Brown, Shearings.

Sarah Vince, Travelux, with the Titan team:Ashley Rushman, Suzanne Lucking and

Louise Sword.

Daniela Wagner and Soren Langelund,eWaterways, with Adele Fitzpatrick-Foster,Clia UK & Ireland.

Deborah Gee, Gillian Mogg and Susan Tooke, all fromEmsworth Travel, with Joseph Grimley, Riviera Travel.

CTN | R IVER CRU ISE REVIEW


PanacheIam standing outside the Meet and Gocafé in Strasbourg railway station

playing ‘spot the fellow passengers’. Itshould be easy. I’m looking for people withsuitcases rather than shopping bags, wholook slightly lost and seem likely candidatesfor a canal cruise. A bit like me then.

As it turns out, an Australian couplehave been playing the same game. By thetime Alan, our guide, arrives to transfer usto Panache, the European Waterways’ bargethat will be home for the next six nights (allof 10 minutes later) we are firm friends.

Such is the nature of barge holidays.The vessels are small – Panache holds just12 passengers, Anjodi, which I cruised onthe Canal du Midi a couple of years ago,holds eight – and everyone soon gets toknow each other and the crew, who mightbe there to look after you but are more like friends.

Panache was built in 1959 as acommercial barge, converted into a floatinghotel in 1998 and joined the EuropeanWaterways fleet in January 2012, spendingspring in the Low Countries before movingto Alsace and Lorraine, in eastern France,for the summer.

It’s one of the company’s biggestbarges, with room for a spacious diningroom and lounge (the latter with free wifi,which was much appreciated by all) andalso a large open deck, where I loved to sitas we cruised, watching the world go byand Charlie, the deck hand, hard at workwith the ropes as we navigated numerouslocks (there were 40 between Savenne andLutzelbourg alone).

Like all European Waterways’ barges,Panache also carries a fleet of bikes, whichyou can use to explore the tow paths thatrun alongside the canals (the barges sailvery slowly so there is not chance of gettingleft behind). I borrowed them several times,getting off at one lock and rejoining the boatat another further down the canal. Anothercouple, these two from the US, preferred tosoak in the spa pool – a feature on most ofthe barges.

My cruise should have been fromStrasbourg to Xouaxange in France, with aboat lift (literally an elevator for boats) totake Panache up the mountain at Arzviller.The lift is an amazing piece of engineering,built in 1961 to replace 17 locks and ninehours of navigation, but an accident a few

weeks before had put the lift out of action so Panache couldn’t make the last stretch ofthe cruise.

It was a shame but European Waterways’alternative itinerary (which included a visit tothe boat lift, a major tourist attraction in itsown right, netting 140,000 visitors a year)was so good, with daily tours led by Alan,there were no complaints.

We saw a stunning water-and-light showduring an overnight stop in Strasbourg andtoured Haut Königsbourg Castle, which wasbuilt in 1147, destroyed by the Swedesduring the Thirty Years War in the 1600s, andbought and restored by German EmperorWilliam II in the early 1900s.

We went wine-tasting in Dahlenheimand tried local Meteor beer with a shot oforange liqueur and tartes flambées (thindough topped with cheese) in a localwinstub in Waltenheim-zur-Zorn (Alsaceand parts of Lorraine changed handsbetween Germany and France six timesbetween mid-1600s and the end of theSecond World War, hence the region has aunique Franco-German culture and townshave very Germanic names).

We also visited Haut Barr Castle, knownas the ‘Eye of Alsace’ for a view over theRhine Valley and Vosges Mountains and inSarrebourg saw the largest stained-glasswindow in Europe, a stunning piece of workdesigned by Marc Chagall and made with1,300 pieces of glass.

Jane Archer discovers the attractions of a canalcruise through Alsace on one of European Waterways’luxury hotel barges.

RIVER CRU ISE REVIEW | CTN

17RIVER CRUISE REVIEW | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

AccommodationAll but one of the cabins on Panache areidentical and surprisingly spacious (theodd one out is about 5 square metres largerthan the other five). Ours was at the waterline (some mornings we were woken byswans tapping on the window, which wasvery cute) with a double bed, ensuitebathroom with toilet, basin and shower.The décor was a bit old-fashioned but itsuited the style of the barge. The onlydownside was a corner wardrobe with suchawkwardly-designed doors that I had togive up putting clothes away.

Food and drinkThis was a highpoint. Christophe, theFrench chef, produced one amazing mealafter another from a galley barely bigenough to swing a cat. We had three-course meals for lunch and dinner,including plenty of local dishes

(choucroute, tarte Alsacienne, Lorrainepate), each served with specially-chosenred and white wines from the region. It’s aset menu for each meal, but Christophealso produced variations for vegetariansand those with special diets. Breakfast wasalways fresh bread and pastries.

ServiceIt’s not silver service or dining at the Ritz,but the service was efficient and friendly asbefits this type of holiday. Our ‘hosts’, Tinaand Karima, took it in turns to serve mealsand present and pour the wines (soft andalcoholic drinks are included in the priceand you can help yourself from the ‘bar’ atany time), as well as making up cabins andkeeping the barge look spick and span.

ItineraryPanache is sailing six-night tulip cruisesthrough Holland from March to May. In May and June it sails through Belgium andParis to its summer base in Alsace. StartingJune 15, Panache will be sailing six-nightcruises between Strasbourg in Alsace andXouaxange in Lorraine and vice-versaprovided the boat lift has reopened asplanned at Easter 2014. If the opening isdelayed, Panache will instead follow myitinerary and sail from Krafft, with theadditional sightseeing in Alsace. Prices startfrom £3,190 per person or £31,300 for awhole-boat charter and includes transfers,all meals and excursions, an open bar, wifiand use of the on-board bicycles. Travelfrom the UK is excluded.

Founded in 1982 with one vessel, Anjodi,European Waterways now claims to beEurope’s largest luxury river barge holidayoperator, owning seven vessels andmarketing and representing another 11.Between them they sail on a variety ofcanals across France and in Germany,Luxembourg, Holland, Italy, Scotland,England and Ireland.

Anjodi, built in 1929 and refurbished withhardwoods and brass, is still the company’sflagship and hugely popular, especially withAustralians and New Zealanders, partlybecause it sails the sunny Canal du Midi inSouthern France but also for its starring role in Rick Stein’s French Odyssey, shown

on the BBC in 2005 and regularly repeatedDown Under.

Across the fleet, about 60% of businesscomes from the US, with the UK at just 10%.

The barges hold anything from six to 20passengers (Clair de Lune, also on the Canaldu Midi, is one of the smallest, La Bella Vita,which sails the Po River in Italy, the largest),which makes them ideal for group charters,which account for half of all bookings.

The holidays are not cheap – an average£3,000 per person for six nights - but they arevery inclusive, with travel from the UK the onlyextra expense on top of the fare. Some 70%of the business comes through the trade(agents and tour operators), with commissionfrom 10%.

Also with European Waterways

CTN | MAKING WAVES


The speed with which CelebrityCruises has expanded its presencein the UK is surely unprecedented.

Almost overnight, the line has gone from15 dedicated staff to 100, as the threebrands within Royal Caribbean Cruises(Royal Caribbean International, CelebrityCruises and Azamara Club Cruises) werebroken up into three separate businesses.

At the head of the new team is JoRzymowska, who woke on January 1 withthe newly-created title of Celebrity Cruisesmanaging director UK and Ireland, and the task of making the company a house-hold name.

“Celebrity is a very unknown brand inthe UK so this is an exciting opportunity tochange that,” says Rzymowska, who waspreviously associate vice-president andgeneral manager for all three cruise lines.“I am genuinely passionate about all three brands but it was complex to give the right level of focus to each. That’s why we have segmented them. The time

was right to do that in the UK.“Michael Bayley [Celebrity’s president

and chief executive] asked me if I wouldlike to head Celebrity and I am veryexcited to about this new role. My vision isto ensure Celebrity is seen as the high-quality large ship cruise line.”

Key to Rzymowska’s strategy is

ensuring agents understand Celebrity andwhat makes the line stand out so they stopselling it simply on price and product. She is also keen to position Celebrity as a high-quality destination-focusedalternative to the likes of Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton resorts to draw new-to-

cruise passengers into cruising.While cautious about categorising the

market, Rzymowska says typicallyCelebrity is targeting people aged 35-55who enjoy the finer things in life such astheatre, holidays and culture, and have a£60,000-plus household income. Theprimary focus is couples, but she is alsokeen to target families with children aged12 and over and also the LGBT market,which she believes is perfectly suited toCelebrity’s modern luxury style.

She says: “Too much time is spenttalking about the product and price, and weforget the passion points – the destinations,the food, the crew. We have guests callingto ask if a particular crew member will beon their cruise. How many hotels do youknow where that happens?”

Celebrity claims a 42% repeat factor inthe UK and while this percentage will dropas more first-timers hop on board, the hopeclearly is that they will quickly becometomorrow’s repeat passengers. As anincentive, Celebrity has enhanced itsCaptain’s Club loyalty programme, addingtwo new upper tiers – Elite Plus and Zenith– that offer more benefits and privilegesincluding free internet, and dining andbeverage discounts.

Rzymowska explains: “All ourpassengers get great service, but membersof these higher tiers will be treated aboveand beyond. These people are veryimportant as they love the brand and talkabout it to their friends.”

To help raise the line’s profile in theUK, and focus on the experiences a cruiseoffers, Celebrity has partnered withadventurer Ben Fogle and wine guru OzClarke, two highly-respected householdnames that agents and consumers can relate to.

As the line’s destination expert, Foglehas been making a series of guides thatposition a Celebrity cruise as an exciting,and luxurious, way to see the world.Exclusive Ben Fogle-inspired shoreexcursions will be launched this year. Fortwo years now, Clarke has hosted autumnwine cruises from Harwich on CelebrityInfinity, lending his enthusiastic style towine-tastings, shore excursions andexclusive wine and food paired dinners.

Rzymowska says the company isalready seeing the huge impact that Fogleand Clarke are having on both agents and consumers.

“The power of influence cannot beunderestimated. Destination bloggers arealso very influential, and we are looking atdesign and food bloggers because thesepeople have an enormous audience. It is

Jo Rzymowska is heading a rapidly expanding team atCelebrity Cruises in the UK and Ireland.

JANE ARCHER REPORTS

MakingWaves

“Too much time is spenttalking about the product and price, and we forget the passion points –

the destinations, the food, the crew”

MAKING WAVES | CTN

19MAKING WAVES | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

very much a multi-channel approach,”she says.

While there is no doubt Rzymowskaplans to harness every means possible toput the Celebrity name on a par with top-named brands such as the Apple orBulgari products that passengers can buyon board the line’s ships, she is alsocommitted to taking the trade with her –or at least those agents who are preparedto share her vision.

She says: “About 85% of ourbookings come through the trade andwhile that might drop a little, it is still amassive amount of business. Agents arebest placed to sell us and those who knowus, get it. The challenge is getting themessage out to the others.

“I am not prepared to spend time andmoney on agents who only want to sellon price but a lot do understand the levelof investment we are putting in to thetrade and the product, and they want tocome with us. I can promise them this: by

the end of 2014, those travel partners whowant to work with us will be in a verygood place. We might not always agreewith them but we will do all we can tomake it easy for them to sell us.”

While higher commission levels areunlikely to be used as an enticement – thecurrent base rate of 10%, with bonus and

incentive payments available, is notplanned to change – Rzymowskaemphasises that agents would benefit fromother channels of investment, for instancemore training and incentives.

As part of its turn-of-year campaign,for instance, Celebrity is offering eightagents the chance to win a day sailing in

the Solent followed by a night with BenFogle at exclusive Spitbank Fort, one ofthree historic sea forts off the coast ofPortsmouth. To enter they need to reveal,via Celebrity’s agents Facebook page, themust-do experience at the top of theirtravel bucket list.

In addition, agents making bookings on selected cruises before February 28stand to win Modern Luxury prize packsfeaturing some of Oz Clarke’s favouritewines, Elemis spa bag and £100 Lifestylevouchers. To encourage bookings,Celebrity has also lined up plenty ofvaluable giveaways for clients (see pages 20-21).

Rzymowska says: “To me, it’s moreabout the whole commercial package.About 1,000 agents a year also get to seethe ships. That’s very important. How canthey talk about them if they have notexperienced them? Together we have theopportunity to take things to a new level. Itis really exciting.”

“About 85% of our bookingscome through the trade

and while that might drop alittle, it is still a massiveamount of business”

THE NEW TEAMFifty members of Celebrity Cruises’ new100-strong team are based in the cruiseline’s call centre at its Addlestone offices inSurrey. All used to also take bookings forRoyal Caribbean and Azamara Club Cruises,but reservations for these two lines are nowhandled by Guatemala.

Celebrity managing director JoRzymowska says: “The call centre staff havealready been well immersed in the Celebritybrand so they know our ships, what eachoffers, where they are based and how tomatch them to customers.”

Heading the UK’s new 11-strongmarketing team is Toby Shaw, who has beenappointed to the newly-created role of directorof marketing and PR. Shaw previously heldsenior marketing roles in Sony Europe andHeineken, and will be overseeing bothconsumer and trade marketing strategies.

Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, who previouslyheaded up trade sales for Royal Caribbean’sthree cruise brands, becomes director of sales for Celebrity Cruises, in charge of a 16-strong team that includes three new strategicaccount managers for TUI, Thomas Cook and the consortia.

Claire Stirrup, who joins from TUI, islooking after Thomas Cook, Nicola McNeish,who joins from Thomas Cook, is looking afterTUI, while Bhavneeta Patel, who alsopreviously was with for Thomas Cook, islooking after the consortia.

Michael English remains as head of sales and is responsible for an eight-strongteam of key account managers and majoraccount managers. Ian Sutton, who joinsfrom Holiday Autos, takes the role of tradingsupport and planning manager, and has a team of two - Elaine Amos, trading support executive, and Sagar Amin, trading executive.

Both English and Sutton report toTempest-Mitchell.

Rzymowska says: “I will still be talking tothe trade and taking an active role in advisorypanels, but it’s very much Nicki who will bedriving sales strategy. I believe we now havethe best team in the business so watch outindustry, because here we come!”

Back row left to right: Gregory Grobler,financial, planning and analysis manager;Kathy Barbrooke, head of guest and tradesales and service; Toby Shaw, director ofmarketing and PR.Middle row left to right: Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, director of sales; Sara Tomlinson,director of revenue and commercial.Front row: Jo Rzymowska, managingdirector UK and Ireland.

CTN | MAKING WAVES


about giving customers unique experiencesand interesting destinations all wrapped instylish surroundings, top-class cuisine andimpeccable service.

The new ships were so well received thatCelebrity Cruises has spent some $140million adding some of the most popularSolstice-class features to its four Millennium-class ships. All now have Blu, a restaurantexclusively for guests in AquaClass spastaterooms, Bistro on Five, which servesdelicious made-to-order crepes, and an ice-topped Martini Bar. Some have a TuscanGrille steakhouse, others have Qsine.

– Millennium-class ships –Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Constellation,

Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Summit

Celebrity Cruises took the cruisingworld by storm when it launchedCelebrity Solstice in 2008. With its

stunning white dining room and light,bright chic furnishings, the vessel broke allthe unwritten rules of cruise ship lookanddesign. It also had ground-breakingrestaurants, one of the most extensive wine cellars at sea and even a half-acre

– Solstice-class ships –Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox,

Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette,Celebrity Reflection

real grass lawn on the top deck.Four sister ships followed, a total

investment of $4 billion, each bringingmore innovation and refinement – quirkyQsine with its playful food; the Lawn ClubGrill, where guests can make their ownpizzas and grill their own meats or justenjoy the ocean views while talented chefscreate mouth-watering dishes, exclusivesuites; even an all-glass shower thatextends over the side of one of the ships.

These ground-breaking ships, combinedwith a huge choice of cruises to more than270 destinations around the world, is whatCelebrity Cruises calls Modern Luxury. It’s

ATTRACTING FIRST-TIMERS

Celebrity Cruises is offering seven-nightvoyages in the Mediterranean for the first time in 2014 to encourage consumerswho have never taken a cruise to try aholiday at sea.

The itineraries are deliberately destination-rich to attract people who like to experiencedifferent countries and cultures, and can becombined with a hotel stay at the start or end ofthe cruise, thereby allowing first-timers to samplesomething new (the sea voyage) while notmissing out on their land-based holiday as well.

Sample excursions from the many portsvisited are highlighted throughout the brochure tohelp agents whet their clients’ appetites. Optionsinclude wine-tasting from Dubrovnik, visits to theVatican in Rome, tours to Eze and Monaco from

Cannes, and hiking up a volcano in Santorini.Celebrity Cruises can also combine the

cruises with stays at the four-star Hotel Reginain Barcelona or five-star Crowne Plaza in Rome,both featured in the brochure, although ofcourse agents can create their own packages inthese cities, and also Venice and Istanbul.Spanish Interlude: A seven-night fly-cruisefrom Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) toBarcelona on Celebrity Equinox visiting Livornoin Italy, for excursions to Florence and Pisa;Villefranche in France; Ajaccio in Corsica; PortoTorres in Sardinia; and Palma de Mallorca inSpain. There is one day at sea. Departures areon June 28 and July 26, with fly-cruise pricesfrom £1,989 per person.Adriatic to Aegean: A seven-night fly-cruisefrom Venice to Istanbul on Celebrity Equinox,visiting Dubrovnik in Croatia; Corfu, Katakolon

and Santorini in Greece; and Ephesus in Turkey.There is an afternoon and night in Istanbul beforedisembarkation. There are no sea days.Departures are on June 14 and July 12, with fly-cruise prices from £1,855 per person.Italian Renaissance: A seven-night fly-cruisefrom Barcelona to Venice on Celebrity Equinoxvisiting Cannes in France; Genoa andCivitavecchia in Italy; Kotor in Montenegro; andZadar in Croatia. There is one day at sea.Departure is on July 5, with fly-cruise prices from£1,990 per person.Greek Isles: A seven-night fly-cruise round-tripfrom Venice on Celebrity Silhouette visiting Kotorin Montenegro; and Santorini, Piraeus (forAthens) and Katakolon in Greece. There are twodays at sea. Departures on July 27, and August10 and 24, with fly-cruise prices from £1,341 per person.

Modern luxury

MAKING WAVES | CTN

21Promotion in Partnership with CTN | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

NEW – Scandinavia & Russiaon Celebrity EclipseA 14-night cruise from Southampton thatovernights in Copenhagen in Denmarkand spends two whole days in StPetersburg in Russia. The cruise alsovisits Stockholm in Sweden; Tallinn inEstonia; Klaipeda in Lithuania; andGdynia (for Gdansk) in Poland.Departures are on May 24 and June 7,with prices from £1,687 per person.A similar cruise departing June 21, July19 and August 16 visits Zeebrugge inBelgium; Warnemünde (for Berlin) inGermany; Stockholm, Helsinki in

Finland; Tallinn; and Copenhagen, andalso spends two days in St Petersburg.

NEW – Norwegian Fjordson Celebrity EclipseAn eight-night cruise fromSouthampton that visits Bergen, Flåm,Geiranger, Ålesund and Scavenger, allin Norway. Departures are on May 2and August 30, with prices from £1,213per person.

NEW – Immersive WineCruise on Celebrity InfinityA 12-night cruise from Harwich timedto coincide with the autumn grapeharvest in Europe that spends twowhole days in Le Havre (for excursionsto Paris), La Rochelle and Bilbao inSpain. The cruise also visits Vigo inSpain and Leixoes (for Porto) inPortugal. Departures on September 19 and October 1, with prices from£1,050 per person.

Clients booking any of these cruises

before February 28, and also one of theseven-day itineraries detailed here, will beeligible for any two of the followingbenefits:• Complimentary classic drinks package,worth up to $1,400• Up to $300 on board spend• Free gratuitiesCustomers booking an Alaska, Bermuda orCaribbean cruise can choose any one of theabove added-value options.

In addition, any booking featuring athird and fourth guest is entitled to a freeClassic Non-Alcoholic Beverage Packageand over half an hour of free internet usageper holiday.

For further information visit:www.celebritycruises.co.uk or

www.cruisingpower.co.uk

LATEST TRAINING ENHANCEMENTS FOR 2014

• 2014 Europe & Mediterranean update: A new training module bringsto life the destinations and experiences on offer from Celebrity Cruises’new seven-night Med cruises. Learn how to use the first-time cruiserfriendly itineraries to attract more people to your cruising portfolio.• Full content update: In line with Celebrity Cruises’ extensiverefurbishment programme, training modules and information has beenrefreshed with new images and information reflecting the new-look fleet.• AquaClass and Qsine in 3D: New 3D environments in Cruising forExcellence online training programme allow agents to ‘walk’ around thespa-themed accommodation. They can showcase the ambience to theirclients, highlighting what is different about Celebrity Cruises.• Scandinavia & Russia module: A new training Cruising for Excellencetraining module showcases the outdoor lifestyle, sunshine and fresh airon offer from a cruise taking in highlights such as St Petersburg, Tallinnand Copenhagen.• Agent trainer Leon Hand outlines some of the reasons to selldestinations like Stockholm in new video content that allows agents tolearn more about the experiences Celebrity Cruises offers in the region.

Celebrity Cruises has two ships based inthe UK this summer, with CelebrityEclipse sailing from Southampton andCelebrity Infinity home-porting inHarwich. Between them, they are sailingexciting new no-fly cruises to the Balticand Norwegian fjords, as well as voyagesto the Mediterranean and ever-popularImmersive wine cruises.

Cruising from the UK


Lead in cruise fares are per person double occupancy. **Lead in Fly/cruise fares based on flights from London. Above & Beyond offers are based on promo ZQ, are available for new bookings only, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn withoutprior notice. ~Reduced 3rd/4th offer is based on sharing a stateroom with two full fare guests based on Promo Z3/ZT. # Reduced Worry Free deposit offer: Pay 50% of the standard adult deposit amount at the time of booking and the remainder uponfinal payment. Worry free deposit permits guests to make changes to their original booking until 90 days prior to departure or the final payment date, whichever is first, Eligible changes include ship/sailing date, stateroom, promo code and one namechange. +Free Parking available on roundtrip Dover cruises on request, ocean view and above staterooms, one vehicle per booking. Other conditions apply. Summer shore excursion offer applies to select Europe and Canada excursions purchasedin advance of embarkation prior to 28th February 2014. For full terms and conditions please refer to www,hollandamerica.co.uk

Message from Wendy Lahmich –Director of Sales

First and foremost - Happy New Year!

We are excited to launch our new Above & Beyond promotion –which features special value fares from £499pp, PLUS up to 10%saving on selected excursions pre-booked before 28 February,

There’s also our reduced Worry Free deposit, which represents just50% of the standard adult deposit rate - and guests can makechanges to their original booking without charge!

Our low 3rd/4th fares make a HAL cruise even more attractive tofamilies looking for a summer holiday – where kids can enjoy ClubHAL activities that include cookery lessons and culture as well asfun and games, while parents can relax and enjoy our premiumamenities and award winning service.

Above and Beyond is more than just a promotion, it alsorepresents one of Holland America Line’s own principles – thereare thousands of ways in which our staff go above and beyondour guests expectations during their cruise!

Agents News to Use!

HAL ACADEMY – HAVE YOU SIGNED UP YET?”HAL Academy offers an in-depth, FREE educational programmedesigned to provide YOU with the tools and sales techniques you needto achieve greater sales success. Log onto www.halacademy.co.uk, no passwords required!

For more cruise fares go to POLAR Online or visitwww.hollandamerica.co.uk

Book your clients before 28 February 2014 to benefit from thesegreat offers!

• Cruise fares from £499pp• 10% off shore excursions (when reserved pre-cruise)• Reduced 3rd/4th guest fares from £109pp~• Reduced Worry Free deposit#• Free Parking at the Port of Dover+

YOUR HOLLAND AMERICA LINE SALES TEAMHolland America Line’s Business Development Managers are your route to successful selling… Dani Scannella – BDM [email protected] Call: (0)7789 923665Vikki Courtman – BDM [email protected] Call: (0)7780 490747Bekkie Skipp – BDM North & [email protected] Call: (0)7780 490748

Our BDM’s are supported by two in-house Business DevelopmentRepresentatives: Katie Brickell – (South & Midlands)[email protected] Call: 02380 65 6758Jessica Holding – (North & Scotland)[email protected] Call: 02380 65 6750

Sales Team: Send us an e-mail [email protected]

Dover, Bergen, Geiranger, Alesund,Eidfjord, Dover

Cruise from £549pp

7-Night Ms Ryndam. 3 May 2014Norse Legends (Other dates available May-Aug)

• FREE parking in Dover+• 3rd/4th cruise from £89pp*

Copenhagen, Tallinn, St Petersburg,Helsinki, Stockholm, Warnemunde, Kiel(Hamburg), Copenhagen

Cruise from £999ppFly/cruise** from £1,229

12-Night Ms Eurodam. 23 May 2014Baltic Adventure (Other dates available May-Aug)

• Overnights in St Petersburg,Stockholm & Copenhagen

• 3rd/4th cruise from just £189pp~

Quebec City, Charlottetown, Sydney,Halifax, Bar Harbor, Boston


7-Night Canada & Ms Veendam. 10 May 2014New England Discovery (Other dates available May-Oct)

• Overnight in Quebec City• 3rd/4th cruise from just £119pp~

Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno(Florence/Pisa), Monte Carlo, La Goulette,Palermo, Naples, Civitavecchia

Cruise from £699ppFly/cruise** from £999

7-Night Ms Eurodam. 22 Apr 2014Mediterranean Glamour

• 3rd/4th cruise from just £109pp~

Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Palermo, LaGoulette, Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Calvi,Monte Carlo, Marseille, Barcelona


11-Night Ms Noordam. 7 May 2014Mediterranean Explorer (other dates available Apr-Oct)

• Overnight in Barcelona• 3rd/4th cruise from just £149pp~

Reservations 0844 338 8600 www.hollandamerica.co.uk

H

MEDITERRANEAN CRU IS ING | CTN

23MEDITERRANEAN CRUISING | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

Going mad for the Med

While affections for otherdestinations come and go, theBritish love affair with the

Mediterranean remains constant. True, the number of UK cruise

passengers heading to the region in 2012fell 9% on the previous year (a dropblamed on the Costa Concordia tragedy,which happened in early 2012), but it wasstill our favourite place to cruise by far,attracting 255,000 more cruising Britonsthan its nearest rival.

With confidence in the safety ofcruising now mostly restored, as well ason-going talk of economic recovery,numbers are expected to have recoveredwell in 2013 and continue to increase this year.

The Med’s appeal is not hard tofathom. It enjoys hot summers and is inour backyard, just a couple of hours awayby air. The favourite departure ports ofBarcelona, Venice, Athens (for cruises

from Piraeus) and Rome (for cruises fromCivitavecchia) are well served with flightsby the likes of British Airways and easyJet.For those who dislike flying, there aresailings from the UK with P&O Cruises,Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity,Cunard and others.

All the big US cruise lines havetrimmed capacity in the Med in 2014 ashigh air fares have hit the number ofAmericans coming across the Pond fortheir holidays. Nevertheless, Britons flyingto the Med still have a huge choice of shipsand styles to pick from, from the megaAmerican family-friendly resort shipsoperated by Royal Caribbean and Princessto the luxurious small vessels offered bySeabourn, SeaDream and Regent SevenSeas Cruises.

Clients can experience tall ships withStar Clippers, improve their mind on thecultural itineraries offered by Voyages toAntiquity and, new for 2014, fly direct to

the Mediterranean sun with the veryBritish P&O Cruises, which is offeringseven and 14-night summer flycruises forthe first time.

It’s not the only cruise company torecognise some passengers want to skipthe many days at sea it takes to sail fromSouthampton to the Med (and to get backto the UK at the end of the holiday) andinstead fly direct to the sun. Cunard, whichhas offered Med fly-cruises on QueenElizabeth from September to December fora couple of years, is extending the seasoninto June in 2014.

Reasons to cruise in the Med are asvaried as the ships based there, which is another reason why the region is so popular with cruisers from around the world.

Families can have fun-in-the-suncruises through the Greek Isles, whilehistory lovers can to journey back to thetime of the Romans with visits to Pompeiiand Rome. City-break lovers can tick offVenice, Athens, Rome, Venice andBarcelona all in one cruise, there is even anew voyage with Variety Cruises forwould-be volcanologists. ››

Culturally rich and with huge choice of ships to choosefrom, the Mediterranean continues to be the top cruisedestination for Brits. JANE ARCHER REPORTS

CTN | MEDITERRANEAN CRU IS ING


Acouple of cruise lines keep vesselsin the region over winter, butgenerally ships come to Europe in

April after spending winter in theCaribbean or Asia and stay in the Meduntil the end of October or November.

Between them they offer a diverserange of itineraries, from one-week cruisesaround the Western Mediterranean to 10and 14-night or longer voyages that linkBarcelona to Piraeus, the port for Athens.Holland America Line, for instance, has 11

and 12-night cruises that can be turned intoepic ‘Explorer’ itineraries by bolting twoor three departures back to back.

There are foodie cruises with Oceania,voyages with several sea days and port-rich itineraries for those hungry to see lotsof places in a short time.

For example, SeaDream Yacht Clubhas seven and 11-day cruises around theWestern and Eastern Med, the Dalmatiancoast and Black Sea that visit somewherenew every day.

Our top 10 Mediterranean fly-cruiseshave lots more ideas for agents looking tomatch clients to the right cruise.

Whether your clients are interested in Roman historyor Greek culture, want to take the family on a summerholiday or are a group of friends looking for a funvacation at sea, you’ll find a cruise itinerary and shipto suit them in the Mediterranean.

Best for fast carsThe Monaco Grand Prix is the jewel in Formula 1’s crown, and CrystalCruises does the event in style, staying in the Principality three days onits 14-day Passion de Grand Prix cruise from Lisbon to Civitavecchia (forRome) on Crystal Serenity so passengers can get their thrills as theworld’s best drivers do battle with the narrow streets and tight corners in this chic corner of the Med. Details of race-going excursions were notfinalised as CTN went to press but are likely to be as 2013 – either agrandstand seat by the start/finish line, a private terrace overlooking the race track or a private invitation to the team paddock – with day trips to Eze or Nice, cookery classes, river rafting and wine-tasting forracing widows.

££ From £4,172 per person departing May 17 including flights,transfers, drinks and gratuities www.crystalcruises.co.uk

10of the bestMed fly-cruises

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Best for partyingTake a big ship, add in bars and lounges, lots of places to eat and plentyof young, party-loving Europeans out to have a good time and you haveMSC Cruises’ MSC Preziosa, a floating resort that’s sailing seven-nightcruises round-trip from Venice to Greece and Turkey in summer 2014and offers fun for adults and children alike. For youngsters there’sVertigo, a waterslide that twists and turns its way along 120 metres, anF1 simulator and 4D cinema; for mums and dads, there’s an adult-onlysolarium, the colourful Green Sax Jazz Bar and the lavish Yacht Club, agated community at the front of the ship where suites come with 24-hour butler service and drinks in the exclusive Top Sail Lounge areincluded in the price. ››££ From £529 per person cruise-only departing April 5www.msccruises.co.uk

Best for ancient civilisations Egypt’s loss following political unrest is Israel’s gain on an epic 28-night voyagefrom Piraeus (for Athens) to Istanbul with Voyages to Antiquity that reads like ahistory who’s who of the Mediterranean and includes an overnight in Jerusalemduring a two-day call to the port of Haifa. There are also hotel overnights inAthens at the start and Istanbul at end of the cruise; in between passengers willtick off everything from Minoan history in Crete and Santorini, to Greek andRoman sites in Syracuse, Sicily, and Delos in Greece. They’ll follow in thefootsteps of the Bible in Jerusalem, the Crusaders in Acre in Israel and theNormans in Palermo. At each port, there are included excursions, while expertspeakers will be on board to help bring the history to life.

££ From £4,195 per person departing on March 22 including flights,transfers, excursions, wine with dinner and gratuitieswww.voyagestoantiquity.com

Best for citiesA cruise is not the best choice for people whowant to immerse themselves in the nightlife ofEurope’s great cities, but for those looking totick off some of the region’s signature urbancentres, Princess Cruises’ 12-day GrandMediterranean voyage on Regal Princess isjust the ticket. Sailing between Barcelona andVenice, they’ll be able to visit Florence from theport of Livorno, Rome from Civitavecchia,Naples (for excursions to Pompeii and theisland of Capri), Istanbul and Athens, and ifthey choose the July 1 departure they’ll alsohave an afternoon and overnight in Venicebefore the flight home. Adding a hotel pre-cruise in Barcelona will give them a night ortwo in that lively Catalonian city as well.

££ From £1,399 per person cruise-onlydeparting July 1 www.princess.com

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Best for a Greek odysseyThere are plenty of cruises around Greece, but Voyages of Discovery’s15-day Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Odyssey on the 556-passengerVoyager is the ultimate itinerary for Greek-lovers, visiting 10 ports inGreece including an overnight in Corfu mid-way and a night in Piraeus,the port for Athens, at the end. Send clients on this cruise and they’llvisit the islands of Cephalonia, made famous by the book and filmCaptain Corelli’s Mandolin, Chania (Crete), Rhodes, Santorini andMykonos, before hopping around the mainland, calling at Kavala,Thessaloniki and Volos. Add in a night in Dubrovnik on embarkation andvisits to Kotor in Montenegro and Sarande in Albania at the start of thecruise and you have a fascinating voyage around the Balkans. ››££ From £2,059 per person departing September 24 includingflights, transfers and gratuities www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk

Best for dining outOne thing is certain on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic –passengers will never go hungry. The ship, which spends thesummer months sailing the Mediterranean round-trip fromBarcelona, has 21 places to eat, and offers everything from Frenchand Italian specialities to a sushi bar, Chinese restaurant andJapanese Teppanyaki, where food is theatrically prepared in front ofdiners. There are dinner shows in the Spiegel Tent, a 24-hour pizzadelivery service, a traditional steakhouse and a churrascaria, wherethe meat is carved from skewers at the table. Around a dozen of thevenues cost extra, but that leaves plenty of choice for people whowant to make the most of the free food.

££ From £983 per person departing May 11 including flights andtransfers www.ncl.co.uk

Best for the French RivieraGet in with the in-crowd on Azamara Club Cruises’seven-night voyage from Civitavecchia (for Rome)through the French Riviera and Provence toBarcelona on Azamara Quest. The line is all aboutdestination so there are overnights in Monaco (theship departs at 7am the day after arriving) andBarcelona, and late departures from St Tropez(11pm) and Bastia (10pm), allowing passengers tostay ashore after dark and enjoy the nightlife. Theship also stays the night in Livorno (that eveningthere’s a complimentary Az-Amazing three tenorsopera concert for all at the Goldoni Theatre inLivorno), which means people can visit Florence andstill have another day to see Pisa and or Lucca.

££ From £1,813 per person cruise-only departing May 7 including drinks and gratuitieswww.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk

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8POINTS OF DISTINCTION

� FREE AIRFARE on every voyage*

� Mid-size, elegant ships catering to just 684 or 1,250 guests

� Finest cuisine at sea, served in a variety of distinctive open-seating restaurants, at no additional charge

� Gourmet culinary programme created by world-renowned Master Chef Jacques Pépin

� Port-intensive itineraries featuring overnight visits and extended evening port stays

� Country club casual ambiance; tuxedos and gowns are never required

� “Bon Appétit Culinary Center,” the only hands-on cooking school at sea+

� Acclaimed Canyon Ranch SpaClub®

� Extraordinarily high staff-to-guest ratio ensures exemplary personalized service

� Youngest fleet in premium-class cruising with 85% of accommodations featuring private verandas

BEST VALUE IN UPSCALE CRUISING

+Available on board Marina and Riviera * Free Airfare is subject to availability and Terms & Conditions.

Imagine a world that is just as you desire. The finest cuisine at sea,

an elegant yet relaxed ambiance, spacious suites and staterooms and

impeccable service all become part of your daily routine. While offering

the amenities of larger vessels, our comfortable mid-size ships were

designed to visit hidden harbours, captivating coves and sleepy seaside

villages inaccessible to many travellers. Our award-winning itineraries

combine the best of your world into glorious journeys often offering

overnight and late evening stays in port. The creation of these unique

voyages is why we are known as destination specialists. We invite you to

experience it all for yourself and reserve your dream vacation today.

Let us bring you Your World. Your Way.®

Only The Finest

Telephone 0845 505 1920 or visit us at

Agent.OceaniaCruises.com



Best for coastal cruisingMost cruise ships bypass Croatia in their haste to get to Venice andDubrovnik, but Seabourn’s Adriatic Gems cruise on Seabourn Spiritlingers longer – 10 days, to be exact, as it sails along ticking off a few ofthe picturesque ports that line the Dalmatian coast. Sailing round-tripfrom Venice (where there is an overnight at the end of the cruise), theship calls at Triluke Bay, a secluded cove where on a calm day themarina is lowered for swimming, wind-surfing, kayaking and bananaboat rides, Dubrovnik, Hvar and Rovinj, all in Croatia. There are also daysashore in Kotor in Montenegro, Brindisi in Italy and the little-known Greekports of Igoumenitsa and Vathi.

££ From £3,496 per person cruise-only departing June 26 includingdrinks and gratuities www.seabourn.com

Best for canal collectorsEveryone knows of the Panama, Suez and Kiel canals but what ifclients have been there, done them? Enter Paul Gauguin Cruises’90-passenger Tere Moana and a seven-night voyage from Piraeus toCivitavecchia (for Rome) that starts with a transit through the CorinthCanal. It’s a narrow waterway, just 70 feet wide, between thePeloponnesian peninsula and mainland that was opened in 1883and can only be navigated by small ships. Once through, the cruisevisits Delphi, Ithaca and Fiskardo in Greece, Giardini Naxos in Sicilyfor excursions to Taormina or a day at the beach, and Lipari andSorrento in Italy.

££ From £3,610 per person departing June 21 including flights,drinks and gratuities www.pgcruises.com

Best forvulcanologistsGet ready for an explosive combination of romanceand volcanoes on Variety Cruises’ new seven-nightDolce Vita cruise round-trip from Malta (withalternative embarkation/disembarkation in Catania inItaly). The cruise, on the intimate 49-berth Panorama,a three-masted sailing ship, visits Santorini, wherepassengers can climb to the top of the volcano thaterupted some 3,600 years ago and split the islandinto three, and also ticks off Lipari and Vulcano in theAeolian Islands, which were created by volcanoeruptions thousands of centuries ago, and volcanicMount Etna on Sicily. The cruise also includes a sailpast Stromboli, where passengers are often treatedto nature’s own fireworks show as ships sail by.

££ From €1,850 (£1,535) per person cruise-onlyfor departures between April 28 and October 13www.seafarercruises.com

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Luxury Cruising by Compagnie du Ponant

ADRIATIC AND AEGEAN SEA: THE ULTIMATE YACHTING EXPERIENCETaking a cruise with Compagnie du Ponant in the Mediterranean offers you a perfect combination of relaxation, exclusivity and cultural discoveries across a range of locations such as Venice, Kotor and Athens.The 132-cabin, 5-star yacht LE SOLÉAL reaches some of the Mediterranean’s best kept secrets whilst treating guests to unrivalled passenger service, the finest cuisine and a bilingual crew ready to tend to your every need. Discover the treasures of the World by sea.

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Summer 2014 - 13 departures from € 1250(1)

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CTN | MEDITERRANEAN CRU IS ING MED NEWS | CTN


Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magicwill be back after a multi-million-dollar refurbishment that has added

new features including the AquaDunk, athree-storey-high waterslide that extends 20feet over the side of the ship. The slide is notfor the faint-hearted as riders start standingand are launched into a near vertical dropwhen the floor opens beneath them.

The ship, which is sailing four, seven,nine and 12-night cruises from Barcelona andVenice, also has new water play areas foryoung children and tots, as well asremodelled play rooms and fresh diningoptions including in Carioca’s and Cabanas.In Animator’s Palate, kids can draw theirown characters and see them come alive onscreens around the room.

There are more water slides onNorwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic,which is sailing seven-night cruises round-trip from Barcelona in 2014. The EpicPlunge is the big one – riders go down in aninner tube and circle in a bowl a few timesbefore plopping out the bottom – but thereare another two. There are also rock-climbing

and abseiling walls, bowling lanes, andkids and teen clubs.

Royal Caribbean’s Independence of theSeas and Adventure of the Seas, bothsailing to the Mediterranean fromSouthampton, and Liberty of the Seas,based in Barcelona, are packed with funactivities for families including rock-climbing walls and ice-skating rinks.Independence and Liberty also each have aFlowRider surf simulator and H20 waterpark. Liberty also has Royal Caribbean’sDreamworks Experience, with characterbreakfasts, parades and 3D films featuringthe likes of Shrek, Po from Kung Fu Pandaand the cast of Madagascar.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas,which will be in the Med for two cruises inSeptember, has twice the fun with tworock-climbing walls, two FlowRiders, aswell as all the Dreamworks chums and aMadagascar Aqua Show featuringcharacters from the films, high divers,swimmers and acrobats.

MSC Cruises has taken family cruisingup a gear on MSC Preziosa, which hasVertigo, a water slide that is 13 metres highand 120 metres long and takes riders downa series of twists and turns – including anine-metre transparent section over theedge of the ship - at an average six metresper second.

There is also a Formula 1 simulatorand 4D cinema (charges apply for both),the iPirati kids club and a teen hang-out for13-17-year-olds.

Med debut for Le SoléalCompagnie du Ponant’s Le Soléal will bemaking its Mediterranean debut this year (itspent its first summer in the Arctic), sailingseven-night cruises around the Dalmatiancoast round-trip from Venice and around theGreek Islands from Istanbul and Piraeus.

Highlights include a seven-night classicalmusic cruise from Venice to Piraeus onSeptember 18 with French TV and radiopresenter Alain Duault from €2,409 per personcruise-only.

A jazz-themed cruise from Istanbul toMarseille departing October 2 will feature two1940s’ concerts paying homage to DukeEllington and Benny Goodman. From €1,813per person cruise-only. A new Open Bardrinks package costs from €30 per person.

Louis short cruisesLouis Cruises is launching three, four andseven-day voyages on the Louis Cristal newfor July 2014.

The voyages, from either Piraeus orLavrion, about 60km from Athens, visit up toseven a Greek islands, including Samos, Milos and Ios which are offered for the firsttime this year.

There are late departures most eveningsso passengers can go ashore and enjoy thenightlife. The four and seven-night cruises willalso be spending a night in Bodrum in Turkey.

Two seven-night Pilgrimage cruises, onApril 18 and October 31, also visit Istanbul.

Prices start at £269 per person for athree-night Idyllic Aegean cruise in July andAugust. Louis went back to its roots in 2013,reinventing itself as a Greek-style cruise line.

There might be fewer shipsin the Mediterranean in2014 as US lines cutcapacity, but there will stillbe plenty of great ships forfamilies this summer.

Family cruisingin the Med


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the Mediterranean for the first time in 2014 onthe 3,078-passenger Ventura.

The ship will be sailing seven-night voyagesbetween Venice and Genoa that can be boltedtogether to make a two-week holiday. Pricesstart at £799 per person for one week includingflights and transfers.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa 2 is sailingseven-night cruises from Barcelona toCivitavecchia (for Rome) and vice-versa, Veniceto Valletta and vice-versa, and Piraeus (forAthens) to Istanbul and vice-versa this summer.The voyages call at different ports on each leg sothey can be put back to back to create a 14-night holiday. From €4,490 per personcruise-only.

Thomson Cruises has two new seven-nightcruises from Malaga on Thomson Majesty inMarch and April that visit ports in Spain, Franceand Portugal. A one-week repositioning cruisetakes the ship from Malaga to Corfu, where it willspend the rest of the summer. Thomson Cruisesalso has a new 14-night Black Sea itinerary onThomson Celebration in October and maidencalls including Chania and Monemvasia inGreece and Zadar in Croatia.

Princess Cruises’ new Regal Princess will becruising the Med this summer from May 20. Themaiden cruise is a seven-day trip from Venice toPiraeus that is also available as a 14-day cruiseround-trip from Venice or a 21-day voyage fromVenice to Barcelona.

Celebrity Cruises is offering seven-nightcruises in the Med for the first time in 2014.There are three itineraries on Celebrity Equinox –from Civitavecchia to Barcelona, Barcelona toVenice, each with two departure dates, andVenice to Istanbul, available on one departure.There are also two eight-night voyages fromIstanbul to Civitavecchia. Celebrity Silhouette issailing three one-week Greek Isles cruises round-trip from Venice.

Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship inthe world with capacity for 6,400 passengerswhen full, makes its Mediterranean debut in theautumn. The ship will be sailing two five-nightcruises round-trip from Barcelona on September13 and 18 calling at Civitavecchia (for Rome) and Naples.

Silversea has three ships and two newitineraries in the Med. A nine-night voyage fromIstanbul to Piraeus (for Athens) on Silver Spiritincludes a maiden call at Kevala in Greece, whilea 12-day voyage on Silver Wind from Las Palmasin the Canary Islands to Barcelona, has a first-time call at Melilla in Spain.



Cruises mostly depart fromSouthampton and Dover (althoughFred. Olsen also sails to the Med

from regional ports) and are usually 14nights or more because it takes at least twodays to cross the Bay of Biscay. Once inthe Med, itineraries visit just a handful ofports because they have to turn around forthe long journey back to the UK.

On the positive side, that givespassengers time at the start of the cruise toget in the holiday mood on the way out andrest before returning home.

They can also drive (or take a train orcoach) to the port and take as muchluggage as they want on the trip. Avoidingairports can also be a relief for familieswith young children. ››

Clients who don’t want tofly can still cruise theMediterranean by sailingfrom the UK with cruiselines including Celebrity,P&O Cruises, Cunard andFred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

5of the bestno-fly Med

cruises



Best for Spain

Clients who haven’t got two weeks to spare can take a 12-night voyage aroundSpain with P&O Cruises. The voyage, on the 2,016-passenger Oceana, departsfrom Southampton and ticks off five ports on the Iberian peninsular – Lisbon,Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga and Cadiz, from where there are excursions to Sevilleand Jerez. There is also an afternoon in Gibraltar, where passengers can tourinside the rock, go dolphin-watching or stock up on the tax-free shopping.

££ From £1,049 per person departing July 14 www.pocruises.com

1

Best for the Black Sea

Fred. Olsen’s 28-night cruise from Southampton to the Black Sea on Balmoral isan epic journey that is ideal for the company’s older clientele, who have time tospare and enjoy making friends on the many days at sea needed to cruise acrossthe Mediterranean, through the Dardanelles and beyond. In all, the voyage has 14sea days and visits 12 ports, including three in the Black Sea (Varna in Bulgaria,and Odessa and Sevastopol in the Ukraine) and an overnight in Istanbul.

££ From £2,699 per person departing June 14 www.fredolsencruises.com

2 Best for Italy

Most no-fly cruises visit one port in Italy; new for 2014, Celebrity Cruises has a 14-night voyage from Southampton on the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Eclipse thatticks off three – Civitavecchia, for day trips to Rome, Livorno for excursionsFlorence and Pisa, and Genoa, from where there are tours to Portofino and thedelightful Cinque Terre villages. The cruise also calls at Malaga, Cannes, Gibraltarand Lisbon and there are a total of six days at sea.

££ From ££1,499 per person departing May 10 www.celebritycruises.co.uk

3

Best for the Western Med

Cunard’s 14-night Mediterranean Explorer voyage on Queen Victoria (one of onlyfive journeys the ship is making from Southampton to the region this year)combines several days at sea with a taste of three countries – Spain (Cartagena,Barcelona and La Coruna), France (St Tropez) and Italy (Livorno). Queen Victoriawill also be visiting Alghero in Sardinia, the second-largest island in the Med andan autonomous region of Italy, and making the ubiquitous call at Gibraltar.

££ From £1,649 per person departing July 27 www.cunard.co.uk

4 Best for for families

With its FlowRider surf simulator, rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink and huge playareas and hang-outs for kids and teens, Royal Caribbean International’sIndependence of the Seas is tops when it comes to keeping the childrenentertained. And with its large spa, multiple dining venues and lounges, it’s afavourite with parents as well. A 14-night Italian Mediterranean cruise visitingCivitavecchia and Livorno next year is one of several voyages Independence willbe making in 2014, ticking off favourite ports in France, Spain and Italy.

££ From £1,199 per person departing June 14 www.royalcaribbean.co.uk

5




FRASER ELLACOTT, TUI UK customer operations director

Thomson Cruises will have four ships in theMediterranean this summer, each sailing avariety of seven and eight-night cruises thatcan be put back to back to create two-weekcruises. Thomson Dream and Island Escapewill be based in Palma, Thomson Majestywill be sailing from Malaga and Corfu, whileThomson Celebration is operating out ofMarmaris in Turkey.

Why is the Mediterranean so popularwith British cruise passengers?We have a varied Mediterranean programmeand the short flight time from 20 regionalairports across the UK is definitely a hook forcustomers. Add in great weather anditineraries visiting destinations such asBarcelona, Rome and the French Rivierawithin one week and it’s easy to see why somany UK cruise lovers pick a Mediterr-anean cruise.

Are your Mediterranean cruisesmore popular with families orcouples?Our Mediterranean programme is popular withfamilies and couples alike. With the option totwin a Mediterranean cruise such asMediterranean Medley with a week in aThomson Family Resort in Majorca, familiesget the perfect mix of exploring newdestinations and relaxing in the sunshine.

Do you find most passengerschoosing the Mediterranean arefirst-timers or do clients return buttry out different itineraries?Both repeat customers and first-time cruisersare opting for our Mediterranean itineraries.Those new to cruise tend to opt for WesternMediterranean programmes because of thepopular ports such as Civitavecchia (forRome) and Barcelona. Our cruise-and-stayholidays are also popular with thesecustomers as they can experience a new typeof holiday in cruising, without missing out on

their much loved beach break. Returningguests tend to take advantage of the widerange of other itineraries available.

What percentage of passengers optfor a cruise-and-stay holiday and isthis side of the business growing?Cruise and stay is the biggest growing part ofour business and almost a quarter of allcustomers choose to twin their cruise with abeach stay.

Which is your most popular cruiseitinerary and why?Our most popular Mediterranean itinerary isAegean Gems on Thomson Spirit.

Which is your personal favouriteMed port – and why?One of my personal favourite Mediterraneanports is Kotor, Montenegro, an untouchedgem of the Adriatic.

BERNARD CARTER, UK managing director, Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises has made its name as apremium cruise line offering some of thebest food at sea. In all, it will have four shipsin the Mediterranean in 2014. The 1,250-passenger Riviera is there from April toNovember, sailing mainly seven and 10-daycruises between Piraeus, Istanbul,Barcelona, Venice and Civitavecchia.Insignia and Nautica, two of its 694-passenger ships, are sailing the Eastern andWestern Mediterranean intermittentlythroughout the season, while Marina, asister to Riviera, will be there in Septemberand October.

Why is the Mediterranean so popularwith British cruise passengers?The Mediterranean offers everything, fromculture, history and magnificent art to fun

family themed parks. It is now possible to find asuitable cruise in the Med to suit pretty muchany criteria. Add to this flying times of from onehour to no more than four – and the fact thatmany cruise do not even involve flights, theMediterranean is literally on our doorstep.

Have capacity cuts by other cruiselines helped you to maintain yourfares in the Mediterranean or are you having to discount?While we have managed to maintain fares onmost of our Mediterranean cruises, we have notbeen immune to the downward pressure onprices for this cruise region. Having said that we have been able to increase our special offerpricing gradually and we are optimistic that2014 will see more early bookings and fewerlate offers.

What is Oceania Cruises’ USP when it comes to cruising the Med?Oceania Cruises offers a ‘home from home’,giving guests the chance to explore the Med incomfortable surroundings akin to a private clubor English country hotel. Another key aspect forus is the cuisine. Renowned for having thefinest cuisine at sea, we maximise this byproducing an amazing variety of dishes from the various destinations that we visit.

Is the Med most popular with pastpassengers or first-time cruisers?The Med is ideal for first-time cruisers as itallows them to experience cruising with littleadditional travel - and with cruises from as littleas seven days the fear of being ‘trapped’ iseased. Thankfully the vast majority love theexperience and are hooked for life.

Which is your most popular cruiseitinerary and why?The Italian and Adriatic Rivieras, and the GreekIslands cruises are by far our most popular.

Have you any new itineraries in theMediterranean in 2014?New Med ports for 2014 include Antibes, Kosand Chania (Crete).

Which is your personal favourite Med port – and why?I would have to go for Monemvasia in Greece,specifically the Old Town. Built quite literally intoa rock that is connected to the mainland by acauseway you do not even see the town untilyou pass through a short but darkened L-shaped tunnel that was obviously built forprotection against raiders in centuries past.Only then are you met buy narrow walkwaysand traditional buildings with small windowsand thick walls that were used to keep the heatout in the summer and in during winter.

ASK THEEXPERTS


Dear Travel Colleagues

All of us at Seabourn would like to wish you a happy and prosperous 2014...

Why not start the year by focusing on the luxury sector? Selling luxury means higher

revenues for you and greater guest satisfaction and loyalty from your clients...

If you’ve not sold luxury before, visit www.seabournacademy.co.uk to learn more about Seabourn and the luxury cruise sector. Seabourn Academy is full of useful marketing and selling tips and you can complete the modules in your own time online.

Our new Signature Savings Event is designed to make selling Seabourn easier for you, with attractive fares, complimentary upgrades on selected sailings and onboard credit available on premium and deluxe suites.

Contact your Business Development team now if you’d like to learn

more! Good selling!

Lynn Narraway - Managing Director UK & Ireland

All fares are per person sharing a double occupancy suite. Signature Savings fares are not combinable with any other offer, may vary by sailing date, are capacity controlled, and are subject to change without notice. Fares are for new bookings only. Lead in fly/cruise fares include scheduled flights from London, transfers and cruise. For full terms and conditions refer to the Seabourn Cruise Collection Catalogue 2014-15. Complimentary upgrade where available will be reflected in fare paid for selected suite category. **Shipboard credit offer of $1,000USD per suite ($500USD/person) on select voyages available in PH, PS, CS, OW, SS, WG and GR suite categories only. #Combination Cruise savings of up to 15% apply when combining consecutive cruises on the same ship and are subject to availability

Dani Scannella BDM South

[email protected] Call (0)7789 923665

Vikki Courtman BDM Midlands

[email protected] Call (0)7780 490747

Bekkie Skipp BDM North & Scotland

[email protected] Call (0)7780490748

Katie Brickell South & Midlands

[email protected]. Call: (0)2380 65 6758

Jessica Holding North & Scotland

[email protected] Call: (0)2380 65 6750

Seabourn’s Business Development Managers are your route to successful selling…

Our BDM’s are supported by two in-house Business Development Representatives…

Sales Team: Send us an e-mail [email protected]

MYANMAR & MALABAR COAST

SEABOURN ODYSSEY

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Complimentary Marina day in Langkawi Island

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Complimentary Marina day in Sorrento

Overnight in Safaga

MEDITERRANEAN ODYSSEY

SEABOURN ODYSSEY

11 NIGHTS

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Monte Carlo, Corsica, Civitavecchia, Amal�, Catania, Monemvasia, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Cesme, Platis Gialos, Piraeus

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Complimentary classical concert at Ephesus

SCANDINAVIA & RUSSIA

SEABOURN QUEST

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Amsterdam (overnight), Kiel Canal transit, Helsingborg, Copenhagen (overnight),

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Overnights in Amsterdam, Copenhagen

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how to sell SeabournPOLAR online is the fastest and easiest way to book Seabourn

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sample itineraries & fares

Signature Savings EventLimited time. Limitless possibilities

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Seabourn - agents news to use!

Issued Jan 2014

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As Miami’s ultimate ship, NorwegianGetaway embodies the essence of itstropical hometown with hull artwork by thecity’s own David ‘Lebo’ Le Batardfeaturing a whimsical mermaid holding thesun above the waves.

With restaurants and bars inspired bySouth Florida and the Miami DolphinsCheerleaders lined up as Godmothers, thelargest ship to homeport in Miami is set tomake an extra special splash on year-roundCaribbean cruises.

Featuring ground-breaking entertain-ment, Norwegian Getaway is the first tofeature the GRAMMY® Experience at sea.This includes artefacts chosen and curatedby the GRAMMY Museum® along withlive performances by past GRAMMYwinners and nominees, among others.

Another first of its kind at sea, TheIllusionarium is a new dining andentertainment experience that will envelopguests in the fascinating world of magic,inviting them to experience the astonishing

Norwegian Getaway itineraryWhich combines into a nine-night fly-cruise:Saturday – depart MiamiSunday – day at seaMonday – day at seaTuesday – Philipsburg, St MaartenWednesday – St Thomas, US Virgin IslandsThursday – day at seaFriday – Nassau, BahamasSaturday – return Miami

CTN | NORWEGIAN GETAWAY


Agents have been invited to hosttheir key clients on board the4,000-passenger Norwegian

Getaway when the ship calls into the UKen-route to its year-round home port of Miami.

A private event on January 15 inSouthampton will take place for key travelpartners and their selected guests as part ofNorwegian Cruise Line’s on-goingPartners First trade initiative

The opportunity to act as hosts onboard a fully-functioning ship will allowagents to engage with their clients as they

experience everything Norwegian Getaway– Miami’s ultimate ship - has to offer.

Although the event was invitation only,Norwegian Cruise Line gave all otheragents the chance for their clients toexperience Norwegian Getaway withanother one-night revenue mini-cruise onJanuary 14 which rapidly sold out.

Prices started at £89 per person andagents are eligible for £30 cash-back ifthey rebook a client who takes the one-night mini-cruise on another Norwegiancruise up to 30 days after sailing.

Nick Wilkinson, director business

development UK, Ireland and Scandinavia,says: “A key part of Partners First is togive our travel partners the tools to makecruise bookings. And there’s no betterclosing tool than customers being able totry before they buy, which is why we’re soexcited to give our travel partners theopportunity to bring their top clients toexperience our fantastic new ship.

“With Norwegian Getaway beingbased in Miami and the Caribbean, we areexploring a range of different ways inwhich to engage with our travel partners.Inviting them to host their clients on boardfeels like a great way to do this.

The latest addition to Norwegian’s 13-strong fleet will sail seven-night EasternCaribbean cruises weekly from Miami allyear round from February 8.

www.getaway.ncl.co.uk

UK agents and their clients will gain a special previewof Norwegian Getaway when the new ship makes a newyear call into Southampton.

Miami Nice

Magical mermaid takes to the seas

678 Ocean Place

Norwegian Getaway Spice H20 Club

Norwegian Getaway

NORWEGIAN GETAWAY | CTN

39Promotion in Partnership with CTN | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

illusions of world-class magicians andsupernatural special effects.

Norwegian Getaway also boastssizzling Latin-inspired dance productionsby Broadway sensation, Burn the Floor;performances of the seven-time TonyAward nominated musical Legally Blonde;hilarious comedy headliners produced byLevity Entertainment Group; and the sing-along fun of the duelling pianos of Howl at the Moon.

To cap off a spectacular cruiseexperience, every sailing will feature adazzling fireworks show at sea, set tomusic, as part of a dance party in the ship’soutdoor club, Spice H20.

Similar to sister ship NorwegianBreakaway, Norwegian Getaway willdazzle guests with 678 Ocean Place andThe Waterfront, a variety of interconnectedindoor and outdoor venues on threedynamic decks that creates a multiplex ofdining, activities and more and enhancesguests’ connection with the ocean.

Norwegian Getaway will also featureMiami’s coolest place to chill out – theship’s SVEDKA/Inniskillin Ice Bar,featuring Art Deco-style décor, reminiscentof Miami Beach’s famous Ocean Drive.

Foodies setting sail from Miami onNorwegian Getaway can feast in theirchoice of 27 incredible dining options,including celebrity chef and Food Networkstar Geoffrey Zakarian’s three diningconcepts: Ocean Blue by GeoffreyZakarian; Ocean Blue on the Waterfrontand The Raw Bar.

Buddy Valastro, star of the popularTLC series ‘Cake Boss’ also has an outpostof his famous Carlo’s Bakery on board,

serving up delicious treats like cannolis,lobster tails and speciality cakes.

For families, Nickelodeon®, thenumber-one entertainment brand for kids,is on board and includes a variety ofexciting interactive experiences, alongwith the opportunity to meet SpongeBobSquarePants, Patrick Star, Dora theExplorer and Diego, among otherfavourites.

Norwegian Getaway will also includean all new pirate-themed NickelodeonKids’ Aqua Park where children can cooloff with colourful, whimsical and largerthan life Nickelodeon characters fromBikini Bottom.

The three-storey Sports Complexfeatures the Aqua Park with five thrillingwater slides, two swimming pools and oneof the largest multi-level elevated ropescourses that will challenge guests to morethan 40 different elements, including a zip track.

For a thrill like no other, guests willconfront The Plank, a platform that extends2.5 metres over the side of the ship.

A nine-hole miniature golf course islocated beneath the ropes course, offeringfamily fun with friendly competition. Arock climbing wall, bungee trampoline andspider web, a seven-metre enclosedclimbing cage complete with a spiral slide,round out the activities.

Norwegian Getaway offers a variety offlexible accommodation ranging fromStudio staterooms specially designed forsolo travellers, to balcony and familystaterooms and opulent suites in TheHaven by Norwegian, the ultimate inluxury accommodation.

What’s on board:27 dining choicesThree main dining rooms – The TropicanaRoom, Savor Restaurant, Taste RestaurantSpecialty dining – Ocean Blue By Geoffrey Zakarian, Teppanyaki, ModernoChurasscaria, Cagneys Steakhouse, Le Bistro and moreTreats – Carlo’s Bake Shop, Dolce Gelato22 bars and lounges – many Miami-inspiredSugarcane Mojito Bar, Sunset Bar, Svedkaand Iniskillin Ice Bar, Spic H2O, PrimeMeridian Bar, Bliss Ultra Lounge, HeadlinersComedy Club and moreThe WaterfrontSoak up the warm Caribbean sun andstunning island views on The Waterfront, aquarter-mile oceanfront promenade of dining,shopping and discoveryEntertainmentContinuing world class entertainment at seawith The Illusionarium (Miami is the MagicCity), Legally Blonde The Musical, TheGrammy Experience, Burn The Floor, WineLovers – The Wine Tasting Musical, LevityEntertainment Group, Howl At The Moon and fireworksAccommodation• Inside, Oceanview, Balcony, Mini-Suites• Studios• Spa Staterooms• The Haven By NorwegianFamily funAqua Park – Five multi-story slides, twoswimming poolsKid’s Aqua ParkSports Complex – Largest ropes course atsea featuring The Plank, 9 hole mini-golf,sports court, rock climbing Splash Academy (Kid’s Club for ages 3–12)Entourage (Teens Club for ages 13-17)SpaWorld class rejuvenating experienceand 24-hour Fitness CentreSalt room

For more information, or to viewrenderings and videos go towww.getaway.ncl.co.uk

Headliners Comedy Club

The Tropicana Room

Kids Aqua Park Haven Spa Suite


Of course, cruise lines would loveall their passengers to take a tourat every port as they make a lot

of money from selling them, but once theship is cleared by the local authorities,everyone is free to come and go as they wish.

That could mean they explore alone orgo on a pre-booked tour with either thecruise line or a local ground operator. Apoll by on-line review site Cruise Criticshowed of those who book excursions,59% choose to go with the cruise line, with25% organising trips in advance withindependent companies and almost 16%booking a tour once they arrive in port.

One alternative Cruisingexcursions.com,launched in June 2011, offers almost 10,000cut-price tours to cruise passengers in morethan 700 ports worldwide. The companypays up to 10% commission to agents andhas just launched a loyalty scheme offeringthe trade gifts in return for bookings.

Although cruise lines’ excursions areexpensive (see box) many passengers feelsafer taking them rather than going ashorealone. They feel confident they will betravelling with a reputable company and,as important, if there is a delay gettingback to the port, they know the ship willwait for them.

Conversely, passengers sightseeingindependently who arrive back at the portafter ‘all-aboard’ time could find theyhave, literally, missed the boat. Whileships are not keen on leaving passengersbehind, they have a schedule and a duty tothose who have made it back on time, so itdoes happen.

Agents asked for advice from clientsyet to take their first cruise should make allthese points clear so they can make aninformed decision on what to do. Goodagents should also be able to advise whenit’s worth buying an excursion as opposedto sightseeing alone, as well as being able

to highlight the many and variedexcursions cruise lines offer these days.

There are sightseeing tours of course,but there are also wine-tasting trips,cookery classes, and a host of activities,from kayaking to hiking, and zip-wiring tocycling. In the Caribbean, you can ride ahorse in the sea, go on a Segway tour, helpcrew an America’s Cup racing yacht andclimb through the gushing rapids atJamaica’s Dunns River Falls.

Many of these things can be doneindependently – there’s no need to pay $59to walk around the walls in Dubrovnikwith Princess Cruises when you can buy aticket at the entrance for £9.75; likewisepassengers can take the funicular to the topof Mount Fløyen in Bergen for £8 return,while a guided walking tour with Celebritycosts more than £30.

However, there are some excursionsthat would be difficult to do alone, forinstance tours to the demilitarized zone inSouth Korea or to the Great Wall of Chinafrom the port of Tianjin.

Many cruise lines have private eveningconcerts in the Hermitage in St Petersburg,which would be impossible for individualsto organise. Crystal Cruises offers two

One of the strangest preconceptions many first-timershave about cruising is that in port you have to go on oneof the ship’s excursions.

CTN | NEW TO CRU ISE A helping hand for agents trying to convert clients to cruise.

THIS ISSUE

What to doin port

41NEW TO CRUISE | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

nights in a Phinda Private Game Reserveduring a cruise from Singapore to Cape Townin March where passengers will be able to joinlocal conservationists as they locate and tagblack rhinos. The exclusive tour costs $1,287per person.

Sample excursion prices

›› A nine-hour Rome on your own tour withPrincess Cruises (a return transfer withindependent sightseeing) costs from $85 perperson. A return train ticket costs €10 (£8.50) perperson.›› A 2.5-hour trip to Dunns River Falls costs upto $50 with Holland America Line. The same tourwith Viator costs from £24. Entrance to DunnsRiver is $20.›› A two-day Best of St Petersburg tour withPrincess costs from $419. It costs from £199including visa with Cruisingexcursions.com.›› Celebrity Cruises charges from £169 perperson for a 12.5-hour excursion to Berlin fromWarnemünde excluding lunch. A small group tour(max 19 people) with Cruisingexcursions.comcosts from £119 excluding lunch. A return trainticket to Berlin costs about €85 (£70) per person.

CTN’s A-Z of cruise portscontinues with S-U

S is for Stockholm: No Baltic cruiseworth its salt can miss calling at Stockholm,not only one of the most beautiful cities inthe world but also packed with things to seeand do. It’s built on 14 islands – a canal boatride around many of them is one of the topattractions. The other is the Vasa Museum,built around a warship (the Vasa) that sank inStockholm harbour on its maiden voyage in1628 and was salvaged in 1961. If neitherappeals, there are RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat)rides in the archipelago, cycling, canoeing,kayaking and fun trips to the Absolut Icebar in the Nordic Sea Hotel. A newSkyView attraction takes visitors to the top of the Ericsson Globe for a bird’s eye view of the city.More at: www.visitstockholm.com

T is for Tobermory: A popular stop onround-Britain cruises, Tobermory is probablybetter known to many as the fictional townof Balamory. It’s the ‘capital’ of the Isle ofMull in Scotland, but a small town andfamed for the brightly-painted buildings thatline the waterfront. This is good walkingcountry, but most visitors arrive and thenhead off on a whale and dolphin-watchingboat tour. On a good day, there might be sightings of minke whales, porpoises and seals, as well as golden and white-tailed eagles. More at: www.tobermory.co.uk.

U is for Ushuaia: At the tip of Argentina,this port town is the main departure point forcruises to Antarctica. It’s so remote it’sknown as the Fin del Mundo (end of theearth) and was used as a penal colony fromthe late 1800s to 1947. The main attractionin town is the prison, where you can visit thecells and a Marine Museum that narrates thehistory of the region, but most people hopon an excursion, either a tour to Tierra delFuego National Park, just a few miles west oftown (look out for the signs that showswhere National Route number 3 ends, some3,063km from Buenos Aires), or acatamaran cruise through the BeagleChannel in search of penguins, sea lions,birds and other marine life. More at: www.visitbrasil.com

MSC Cruises UK managing director Giles Hawke offers five tips on how to use excursions to help sell more cruises.

Some cruise lines pay commission on shore excursion so there is moreincentive to book BEFORE the guest travels.

Pre-booking an excursion not only guarantees their place but also ensures customers makethe most of their destinations. It is essential they experience the right excursion to maximisetheir holiday enjoyment. This will create happy customers and repeat business.

Adding an excursion into a package creates an “exclusive” offering for customers. Forexample, they can book a fly-cruise for £699 per person and pay only £50 extra for theexcursion. Understanding what a customer wants from their cruise is key to including the right excursion(s).

Use excursions to create a talking point. If a customer is keen to see Pompeii or Santorini,suggest a cruise holiday where it is possible to see both - and more - in one trip. This alsoallows agents to sell to city-break customers and cultural tourists.

Discussing shore excursions adds to your value as a travel agent because you are doingmore than just selling a cruise. Customers will talk to family and friends about what you havedone to help and are more likely to return.

TOPTIPS

A to Z OF FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS

CTN | AGENT TRAIN ING


Dani Scannella holds two businesscards, one as businessdevelopment manager – south for

Holland America Line and another withthe same job title but for Seabourn.Although the two Carnival brands havetheir offices in the same building inSouthampton – she is keen to stress thatthat’s where the similarity ends.

It’s one of the first things she pointsout during a four-hour agent trainingsession across both brands. Scannella has90 minutes to present on each brand, witha breather in between at the venue, theWoodlands Park Hotel in Cobham, Surrey.

This is one of the Signature SeminarSeries which run four times a year aroundthe UK and feature HAL’s new xplorer4Early Booking programme and Seabourn’s2014/15 initiatives, all designed to helpagents build business.

Marrying the right client to the rightcruise line is Scannella’s mission.

“The importance for the agent is tounderstand the offering and quality of eachbrand versus the expectation of the guest.There is a cruise for everybody but theyneed to understand the brand and the brandoffering,” she says.

It’s a slick presentation, with videoshown from the ships mixed with herwords on what differentiates the twobrands in terms of market segment,customer profile, demographics and theselling tools available. Plus lots ofopportunity for Q&A from the dozen or sodelegates, six of whom are home workersfrom Travel Counsellors.

Scannella kicks off with the uniqueselling points (USPs) of the 15 ships inthe HAL fleet, explaining:

›› its market positioning - five-star premium“filling the space between luxury and massmarket and equivalent to a BMW or Lexuscar or John Lewis or Waitrose shop” ›› the customer profile – “the premiumtraveller is not defined by age but by orincome but by being discerning and well-travelled” ›› its high quality amenities and servicethat are higher priced but still good value›› its style, with authentic furnishings ofteak and marble, fine fabrics, fresh floraldisplays, five-star dining, extensiveactivities, more space and award-winningservice

She traces some of the 140-year history ofthe line and moves on to the typical guestprofile, which is families in July/Augustand couples outside that period.

She then drills down to the five pillarsof excellence, which are

›› the style and manner of dining›› the ships and accommodation, which is “25% larger than industry norm”›› service, which is always there but never intrusive›› destinations: worldwide; the key being HAL not only taking you there andbut into the destinations›› activities: sophisticated enrichment and indulgence

Scannella then runs a video, which is anew element of the training module, andwhich gives a behind-the-scenes look atHAL, aiming to illustrate all of the abovepoints in closer detail.

One thing it looks closely at is the OnLocation programme to help passengersimmerse themselves in a destination. Forexample, bringing 24 varieties of pizza onboard when calling in at Naples; thepastries, olives and Italian wine and musicbrought in at Sicilian ports of call; orlearning to dance the tango when inBuenos Aires.

Where the ships cruise is, naturally, amajor part of the learning experience.

Dover departures to the Baltics andNorwegian fjords are detailed – ten

Aligning the potential cruise customer to the right cruiseand line is a fine art, and one that Holland America Lineand Seabourn take seriously. Gillian Upton sits in on anagent training session.

Agents of change

AGENT TRAIN ING | CTN

43AGENT TRAINING | CRUISE TRADE NEWS |

sailings a year - and the six new itinerariesin Europe including seven new ports ofcall (such as Antalya in Turkey andBurgas on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast) andthe 17 overnight calls including Barcelona,Istanbul, Athens, Stockholm, Venice and St Petersburg.

Scannella peppers her presentationwith titbits such as helping to sell Norway– which is expensive – by suggestingpassengers take a morning excursion andget back on board for lunch; and howagents can double their commission whenpassengers choose a Collector Voyage; or sell the 113-day Grand World Voyage by promoting the fact that ArchbishopDesmond Tutu will be on board for five days of it.

She concludes the HAL presentation byflagging up the new Pinnacle class shiparriving in 2016 and looking at the sellingtools available to agents. The FlightEasebooking system with immediateconfirmation, the two fare types (flexibleand restricted), group rates, affinity groups, Explore 4 promotions and the webbanners and adverts available to add to any email mailing.

After a 30-minute tea break it was the turn of Seabourn to come under thespotlight: the six-star, 25-year-old luxury brand.

“It’s all about space and the crew toguest ratio of 1:1,” explains Scannella.

USPs here are the much smaller ships –with Odyssey, Sojourn and Quest eachtaking 450 passengers - a lecturesprogramme called SeabournConversations, a new loyalty programmein which guests choose the benefits theywant in their membership, high repeatguest ratios, predominantly couples, andthe much higher commissions and profitsper sale. The average Seabourn booking is £9,000.

Specifically, Seabourn offers:

›› all-suite, contemporary, non-traditionaldécor›› own marina at back of ship with sea toys›› 90% of state rooms have verandahs (inthe older ships) and there are full balconiesin the newer ships›› spa facilities›› free fine wines at all meals›› Seabourn moments, where staffanticipate guests’ needs›› five restaurants and dine when and withwhom you want›› world famous musicians andentertainers, chefs, wine-makers,astronomers and naturalists on board aspart of the lecture programme›› intensive port explorations

With Seabourn it’s not about movingguests from Silversea or Regent butintroducing land-based guests who stay atRaffles and Mandarin Oriental and who aremembers of exclusive golf clubs.Seabourn’s traditional target market was65-plus and with a net worth of £2 million.

Today, however, the new targetaudience is aged 45-plus and with a networth of £1 million.

“They’re the people we want onSeabourn. We want the luxury traveller.They are more experienced andknowledgeable and travel three or fourtimes a year,“ says Scannella.

Hold on to them and keep marketing tothem, she advises, suggesting sending outa newsletter.

“It might only be to 50 people but youonly need one booking. These travellersare eight times more likely to cruise thanthe general travelling population. And theymay research online but always want totalk to someone and then book.”

She advises agents not to discount

Seabourn: “The Seabourn guest wants yourservice and not necessarily the discount.”

Just 12% of agents serve this marketand any new agent will find their prospectsin the luxury hotel guest.

“Some of these hotel guests are notaware of the luxury, six-star, small shipenvironment and this is where you comein,” says Scannella.

Agents are advised to undertake the six modules that make up SeabournAcademy, a CLIA-accredited onlinetraining programme. Agents also receive Seabourn Insider, a bi-weeklynewsletter.

There are online sales tools, such asads, banners, videos and virtual tours onthe Seabourn website, and the bookings of those passengers who re-book on boardgoes back to the agent to collect thecommission.

“Really useful”, “Really thorough” and “well worth it” were some of thecomments voiced when Scannella closes her laptop.

She promises to support any clientevenings agents stage and hands out goodybags as they leave, a lot wiser to HAL andSeabourn and which clients they couldtarget to go on board.

Dani Scannella

CTN | TECHNOLOGY NEWS


Amadeus Cruise Shop expands

Dedicated rivers booking system unveiled

Amadeus is adding Hurtigruten to its CruiseShop online booking system, taking thenumber of cruise lines using the newtechnology to 14.

The system is also being enhanced to allowagents to amend and cancel bookings. Thatfeature was previously only available to retailerswho were also using the company’s 2001-launched Amadeus Cruise booking system.

Cruise Shop, which was launched at theColumbus Day cruise convention in Liverpool inSeptember, has been designed to allow agentswho know nothing about cruising to findvoyages that meet their clients’ needs.

Searches are done using criteria such asdeparture date, duration, destination anditinerary, even the preferred Caribbean islands,and return numerous suggestions that fit the billfor clients to consider.

Agents will also be able to find cruises usinglifestyle choices such as ships that suit families,the young at heart and foodies from this month.

Amadeus head of marketing communicationRob Golledge said: “Agents want technologythat matches how they work with clients. WithCruise Shop, anything the clients say can be put

into the system. It has been built around howpeople react so agents can work verynaturally with their customers.

“Agents can also stop anywhere throughthe process and the booking will be stored forwhen the client comes back. If the originalagent they were dealing with is away,someone else can easily pick up the booking.”

Golledge said around 500 agents havebeen trained to use the system since itslaunch, mainly via webinars.

“We originally planned two-hourclassroom training sessions but based onfeedback we’ve moved to webinars andshortened it to 90 minutes, which showshow easy to use the system is,” he said.

Around 80% of the trained agents arealready using Amadeus Cruise as thecompany is processing Cruise Shopcontracts for past customers first, butGolledge promised that will change.

“We have been a bit slow getting thecontracts sorted because we wereoverwhelmed with demand. I guess we have been a victim of our own success. But we have streamlined the system

A booking system that gives agents access toalmost 70 river and niche cruise lines has beenlaunched by Glasgow-based technologyprovider Traveltek.

Part of the company’s iCruise suite ofproducts, the technology allows agents to searchfor a river cruise by month, river, destination orcompany. Once a cruise is selected, clients canpick a cabin and agents can add flights transfers,and pre or post-cruise hotels.

They can also deconstruct the river cruisecompanies’ own packages and create a bespokeholiday for their clients.

Traveltek managing director Kenny Pickensaid he has been looking to develop a dedicatedriver cruise system for some time but it was finallymade possible because the river cruisecompanies have invested in their own technology.

iCruise - River Search uses Traveltek’s owncontent but takes live pricing through an XML

feed from the individual river cruise companies’websites.

Picken said a deal with London-basedRescompany Systems gives Traveltek access toa potential 38 different niche and river cruiselines (the shipping companies have to agree the connectivity first), in addition to Traveltek’sown customers.

He added: “We released it when we didbecause there is big demand. A full-blownversion will be available in quarter one this year.”

The system was on show at the Clia UKand Ireland River Cruise Expo in Cologne inNovember and is live and available now, either as an add-on to iCruise or a stand-alone product.

River cruise companies already signed upfor the system include AMA Waterways, AvalonWaterways, APT Cruising, Uniworld RiverCruises, Viking River Cruises, Scenic Tours and Shearings.

and things will move quicker in January.” The system is free to agents, who pay a

£1 per booking fee.A second webinar targeted at system

administrators explains how to get new agentsonto the system and ensure all users getdetails of their company’s cruise promotionsand discounts. This training takes just an hour.

For now agents can only book cruise-onlyvoyages or cruise lines’ own fly-cruise holidayson Cruise Shop, but Golledge said that willchange, with further enhancements that willallow users to create their own flight-inclusivepackages. That functionality is available onAmadeus Cruise but not all cruise specialistshave access to the GDS so that is animportant addition for the trade.

Amadeus will also be introducing aconsumer version of Cruise Shop this yearthat agents can over-brand and put on theirwebsites for past passengers who are happyto search for a cruise on their own to use.

“A lot of clients want to talk to someone,especially if they have not cruised before, butit’s different for repeat passengers who knowwhat they are looking for,” Golledge said.

Agents favourite Cruise Shop features›› The system shows upgrades so youcan see at a glance the cost of a higher-category cabin.›› Searches can be based on date ofdeparture.›› Content with maps can be emailed toclients so they can look before they book.


Amadeus Cruise Shop is designed to fit around your business requirements with user-friendly displays and processes that are optimised for selling.

Your productivity will increase and your agents can focus on delivering superior service without having to contend with slow or unfamiliar technology across multiple websites.

Amadeus Cruise Shop offers the same easy booking flow regardless of the cruise line being sold. That means more speed, more efficiency and higher profitability.

Azamara Club Cruises Carnival CruisesCelebrity Cruises Costa CruisesDisney Cruise LineFred. Olsen Cruise Lines Holland America Line

Hurtigruten (coming soon!)MSC CruisesNorwegian Cruise Line (NCL)Oceania Cruises Royal CaribbeanSeabourn Silversea

Amadeus Cruise Shop offers real-time connections to the world’s leading cruise lines, including:

Amadeus Cruise Shop makes searching, comparing and booking easy, fast and efficient.

Amadeus Cruise Shop really does put you in control

Putting you in control of cruiseCruise Shop

Visit the Amadeus Cruise Shop website today to learn more www.amadeuscruiseshop.co.uk

CTN | INDUSTRY OPIN ION


Forget 2014, the following year’s the big one

As most analysts and cruise lineexecutives make predictions about2014, I thought I would skip and

go straight to 2015. I think it’s going to bea tough-ey for some.

Amid all the excitement of theintroduction of both Britannia andQuantum Of The Seas, two other factorswill be in play, which from a yieldstandpoint don’t usually go well together.

First of all, there’s the extra capacity,but in addition there will be a majorincrease in fuel costs due to new EC ruleson allowable sulphur content in fuel thatcan be burnt in the Baltic, parts of Norway,the North Sea and the English Channel.Depending on the size of the ship, thisincrease could well be in the region of $3million per vessel per summer on like-for-like itineraries, against 2013.

To offset such rises, cruise lines arelikely to be reducing ship speeds in 2015 toconserve fuel. This means calling at fewerports, often for shorter period, with moretime at sea.

Cost will be a bigger driver ofitineraries than ever before. Add this factorto the capacity increases, and one can see acase why late discounting in the industrymight still be with us in two years’ time.

If so, it will mirror parts of 2013. Asone cruise agency director put it to me lastspring, prices achieved around April/Maywere at times “eye-wateringly low”,particularly to Norway and The Baltic.

With 2014 programmes having beenalready released at that time, cruise linesand agents are – or should be – putting theright incentives in place to work to reallydrive bookings this January to avoid arepeat of last year.

One of these incentives is commission.Carnival UK recently announced that it is to increase agent commissions up to 7.5% from 5%, with sales director ChrisTruscott insisting that the original

move was “not a mistake”. Leading industry figures took to

Twitter to comment. Examples rangedfrom Travel Counsellors’ DavidSpeakman quoting Bruce Lee, whilstKuoni’s Derek Jones questioned howagents can claim as “good news”, anoriginal start point of 10% going to 7.5%.

Time will tell how much this movewill work, but one senses it will not be an instant fix. However, the easing ofCarnival UK’s payment policy is boundto help.

This is a big year for MSC Cruises in the UK too. As new UK managingdirector Giles Hawke sets out to reassureagents of their importance to MSCCruises, the Italian line has made afurther commitment to the UK market by adding the 2,500-berth MSCMagnifica to its ex-Southamptonportfolio for four sailings from nextSeptember alongside MSC Opera, withpossibly more sailings in 2015.

Overall, 2015 is going to be a bigyear, but 2014 needs to be really good toserve as a building block for cruise linesand agents alike, by minimising latediscounting. This year will mostdefinitely be a crunch year too!

David Selby is managing director ofTravelyields Consulting, which specialises inthe improvement of revenue performance inthe cruise industry. Twitter @[email protected]

As 2015 is already shapingup to be a landmark year,David Selby asks... how Important Is 2014 onthe cruise line crunch-ometer?

INDEPENDENT VOICE | CTN


There’s no denying that we havefaced challenges in the cruisemarket over the last couple

of years. But with one in eight foreign package

holidays taken by British travellers beinga cruise and the fact that holidaymakersstill prefer to book their cruise with atravel agent – with eight out of tenpassengers choosing this method ofbooking – cruise is not only exciting butabsolutely worth getting behind.

Last year was an exciting 12 monthsfor the sector with ship launches aplenty– Europa 2 from Hapag Lloyd Cruises,MSC Preziosa, Royal Princess plus notone but 10 launches from Viking - toname but a few.

Each time one of these ships islaunched it brings more exposure aboutcruise holidays to customers.

The excitement continues into 2014with more river cruise launches, this timefrom Avalon Waterways. Princess Cruiseswill launch Regal Princess in May andQuantum of the Seas will join the RoyalCaribbean International fleet – and this

is just a small selection. As well as the new ships that will sail

next year, there are exciting vessels on the horizon in 2015 that will go on sale this year, namely Anthem of the Seas from Royal Caribbean and P&O Cruises’Britannia.

Every time a ship launches the featuresthe cruise operator manages to incorporateon board takes it to the next level, from thestunning Skywalk on Royal Princess to thebumper cars and sky diving on Quantum of the Seas.

There are some really strong messagesin the marketplace for January rangingfrom 2 for the price of 1 with Hurtigrutenon its Classic Voyages to complimentarydrinks packages with Celebrity Cruises.

There’s even an ‘Enjoyment Promise’with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines that givescustomers who have not previously taken acruise with the company the opportunity toreceive their full cruise fare back if theyare not 100% happy.

January is a key time for sales and asan industry it is so important to ensure that as many bookings as possible aremade early.

We need to help end the growing trendfor late bookings we seem to beexperiencing for cruise.

I would strongly encourage operatorsto hold their nerve and not slash theirprices to the levels we saw in 2013.

Cruise is an aspirational product so let’smake sure it remains as such.

Our wish for agents would be not todiscount the cruise product but sell onservice and make yourself indispensable toyour customers.

Claire Brighton is senior commercial managerfor Advantage Travel Partnership

Cruise lines must holdtheir nerve over pricingthis year, says Advantage’sClaire Brighton

No slash and burn this year


To the old adage, ‘Never work with childrenand animals’ add, ‘or radio DJs’. I refer to an‘interview’ between DJ Lauren Laverne, andRoyal Caribbean International president andCEO Adam Goldstein to announce thatAnthem of the Seas will be sailing fromSouthampton when it launches in April 2015.It was all going so well, if a trifle stilted. Andthen Laverne started to ad-lib and we foundout why the exchange had been so scripted.‘So you’ll be able to sail straight from the UKto the Mediterranean,’ she gushed. To thinkno one has ever thought of doing that before!

Royal Caribbean’s news about Anthem wasalmost upstaged by the Heron Tower in the Cityof London, where the announcement wasmade. To borrow Royal’s own vast lexicon,‘Wow’. I arrived for a pre-announcementinterview with the bosses and was whiskednon-stop to the 29th floor in an all-glass lift,which took me to a glass-fronted lobby areaway up in the sky. I’m sure there would havebeen a great view if I had dared to look.

Whether it’s the river cruise expo, RoyalCaribbean’s Anthem party, Clia UK’s Liverpool

Columbus Day or annual dinner in London, thereis one person who is always there (apart fromyours truly of course). Life would not be the same if he wasn’t. But imagine my surprise when the boss of Traveltek attributed the launchof the company’s new river cruise bookingsystem to the same man. “It was Phil badgeringme that led to us to create iCruise for rivers,”Kenny Picken admitted. Mr Nuttall, take a bow!

Talking of the river cruise expo, there was a bit of harrumphing next to me when Clia UK &Ireland boss Andy Harmer said the baby boomer generation born between 1946 and1964 did not know war or rationing. Not quitetrue given rationing in Britain didn’t end untilmidnight on July 4 ,1954. It could have beenworse. He could have asked agents to learn the “river dance”. Oh wait …

Congratulations to Cunard, its passengers andcrew for raising £1 million for the Prince’s Trust.The line’s association with the trust wasestablished when the Duchess of Cornwallnamed Queen Victoria in December 2007. I wasthere at the naming ceremony (and so excited tosee the then Carnival Corp CEO Micky Arisoncoming up the stairs in front of me, I didn’t notice Charles and Camilla in front of him!) andwas honoured to be invited to a lunch on boardQueen Victoria to see the cheque handed over.

And finally…News reaches me that former CTNeditor Barry Cain has written his firstnovel, a racy crime story with theintriguing title ‘Wet Dreams, Dry Lives’.Apparently there is not a cruise ship insight but if you want to know more, theebook can be downloaded fromAmazon, price £1.90.

CTN | MARIE CELESTE From DJs to the Prince’s Trust. . .

Look what was waiting towelcome MSC Divina when itarrived at its new year-roundhome in Miami. A fleet of Fiat

Cinquecentos – on water! Itwas a show-stopping

entrance that would havemade actress Sophia Loren,

the ship’s godmother, proud. I wonder what look

Southampton will come upwith when it welcomes Oasis

of the Seas later this year. Ithas a lot to live up to.

To us it’s just a blanket with Cunard’s name on it, toMylene Paquette it’s the item she was unable tosqueeze onto her boat when Captain Kevin Oprey,master of the Queen Mary 2, came to her rescueafter she lost her anchor and satellite phone in astorm while attempting to become the first NorthAmerican woman to row solo from Canada toFrance. As well as replacing the lost items, QM2donated fruit, vegetables, chocolate, water andother provisions, but the blanket had to wait.Captain Oprey was finally able to hand it over whenMylene was back on dry land after 130 days at sea.

Documents

Cruise Trade News January 2014