HOLLAND AMERICA PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON ALASKA’S GLACIERS
Holland America Line is debuting ‘Glacier Days’ on its Alaska cruises with expanded ‘We Love Alaska on-board experiences.’ HAL’s six ships doing cruises from Vancouver and Seattle are featuring more cultural enrichment and culinary and cocktail specialties designed to foster a deeper connection to the people and history of Alaska, the company says. MORE
‘STAY & CRUISE’
MSC Cruises unveils new summer program
MSC Cruises has announced a new summer ‘Stay & Cruise’ program, offering guests the chance to extend their cruise with a new add-on package in five destinations: Athens, Venice, Rome, Miami, and New York. Clients can book extra accommodation for two or three nights (depending on the city) before or after their cruise, coupled with a half-day city excursion. MORE
A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT
Carnival president Christine Duffy honoured by CLIA
A “global travel industry champion,” Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy has been honoured with the Cruise Lines International Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024. Steering the flagship brand of Carnival Corp., Duffy leads more than 48,000 Carnival Cruise Line team members who cater to more than 5.5 million guests each year. MORE
QUEEN ANNE SET TO SAIL AFTER DELIVERY
Cunard’s newest ship, the Queen Anne officially joined the luxury cruise line's iconic fleet during a historic handover ceremony in Italy on April 19 and is now sailing to Southampton ahead of her seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on May 3. MORE
PRINCESS POSTPONES DELIVERY OF NEW SHIP
Princess Cruises and ship builder Fincantieri have announced the mutual decision to postpone the delivery of the next Sphere Class ship, Star Princess, by nearly two months. The ship was due to be delivered July, 2025, but will now be handed over on Sept. 26 resulting in the cancellation of the vessel’s nine inaugural sailings. MORE
WASN’T THAT A PARTY!
500 Newfoundlanders wind up on the same cruise
A Celebrity Apex cruise to the Caribbean this month turned into a rocking Newfoundland kitchen party when hundreds of people from Canada's easternmost province happened to be booked on the same ship. MORE
PENGUINS OR WALLABIES? A dilemma on an Aussie island
Decisions, decisions. On a visit to Australia’s Philip Island on a Seabourn Cruises voyage down under, two evening shore excursions were both listed as must-sees. One tour promised us an unforgettable avian airshow as thousands of seabirds fly in feathery clouds back to their nests at sunset as part of a spectacular hike along one of Australia’s most famed surfing beaches whose cliffside trails are the routes of loveable wallabies. We’re also promised an awesome surprise at the end. MORE
CARNIVAL BOOSTS BOOKING TOOL FOR AGENTS
Carnival Cruise Line is introducing a series of new features to its online booking tool for travel advisors, GoCCL Navigator. The enhancements streamline the booking process, providing travel advisors with the tools and resources they need to maximize efficiency and improve their overall experience to support their business and income growth. MORE
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL
Agents see uptick in intimate cruising
A notable shift towards smaller and more luxurious vessels, including yachts, among affluent travellers, is among the latest trends in cruising, according to independent travel agency First in Service (F1S). MORE
CRUISE LINE HAS WIND IN ITS SAILS
Small-ship luxury cruise Windstar Cruises is expanding its fleet with the addition of two all-suite motor yachts, Star Seeker and Star Explorer. The first of the two ships, new-build Star Seeker, is expected to be delivered in December of 2025, followed by Star Explorer in December, 2026. MORE
ACTA LAUNCHES PANEL SERIES
First Up – Cruising
ACTA is launching quarterly professional development sessions focusing on different segments within the travel and tourism industry. The new initiative aims to provide a platform for learning and discussion of industry trends, enhancing industry knowledge and fostering dialogue. The 2024 spring session leadership panel takes place April 26 at 1 p.m. EST and will focus on the cruise segment. MORE
NEW OPTIMISM, NEW SHIPS AS CRUISES CELEBRATE REBOUND
Big ship orders and a buoyant future for cruising were the buzz at Seatrade Cruise Global, the cruise industry’s biggest confab of the year, held in this week in Miami. Record levels of early booking for 2025 are not a result of left-over demand from the shutdowns of the pandemic era, but the new normal, Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corp. declared in the State of the Industry panel discussion at the conference. MORE
ST. LAWRENCE CRUISE SEASON UNDER WAY
MSC Poesia first to arrive in Quebec City
MSC Poesia docked at the Port of Québec April 10, officially kicking off the 2024 Destination Saint Lawrence international cruise season. Nine ports of call are gearing up to welcome 46 different ships from 29 cruise lines in 2024, while bookings to date are estimated to represent over 400,000 passenger-days and some 500 days in port. MORE
BOLD NEW VISION
Norwegian looks to future with eight new ships
Norwegian Cruise Line Holidays has revealed an “unprecedented decades-long strategy” that includes building eight new vessels across its three brands plus the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island destination in the Bahamas. MORE
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A CRUISE
Avalon unveils new, longer cruises
In response to a “wish list” survey of past cruisers earlier this year, Avalon Waterways says it will introduce a series of new, longer cruises, checking in at 10 days and more to meet interest and demand. MORE
7 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT CELEBRITY ASCENT
Has Celebrity Cruises evolved to the point where the ship can be the destination? We’re about to find out on a cruise aboard the new Celebrity Ascent, which offers a range of daily activities for every age and interest. But is it right for you? Here’s a look at the ups (and some downs) on Celebrity’s newest addition. MORE
SEVENTH HEAVEN
MSC Cruises reveals latest World America details
With MSC Cruises’ new vessel ‘World America’ scheduled to set sail from its homeport in Miami in April 2025, and cruises already available to book, MSC continues to reveal detail of its new flagship. MORE
AVALON BOOGIES IN PORTUGAL WITH FIRST DOURO SHIP
To the beat of KC and the Sunshine Band’s 1975 hit “Boogie Shoes,” Avalon Waterways christened its 15th Suite Ship in Pinhão, Portugal, late last week with actress Cheri Oteri (‘Saturday Night Live’) doing the honours and serving as Godmother. MORE
BETTER WATCH OUT SANTA, WE’RE COMING TO THE POLE
Ho, ho, ho, who wouldn’t go? An 18-night icebreaking voyage all the way to the North in July is among Abercrombie & Kent’s innovative new small-ship expeditions for 2024. There will be a cocktail party at 90 degrees north and a toast to Santa Claus. (Of course, it’s a myth he and his elves actually live at the Pole, but bears and Arctic birds could very well be surprise guests). MORE
VIKING FLOATS OUT NEWEST NILE SHIP
Set to sail this summer
Viking “floated out” its newest ship for the Nile River – the 82-guest Viking Hathor— late last week, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Set to debut in August, the Viking Hathor will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day ‘Pharaohs & Pyramids’ itinerary. MORE