Cruise Update: Crystal, Atlas Ocean, Scenic

Crystal has unveiled its new Easy Book program that includes reduced deposits and waived administrative fees for all new bookings through June 30, 2020.

The new program applies to all Crystal experiences – Crystal Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Yacht Cruises and Crystal Expedition Cruises – in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The reduced deposit of 15% of the total cruise fare (normally 25%) and waived administration fee (granting guests a 100% refund of deposit if they need to cancel prior to Crystal’s standard cancellation schedules) allow travellers to plan ahead without the risk of losing any of their deposited money should their travel plans change.

Carmen Roig, Crystal’s senior vice president of marketing and sales, said: “As we look ahead to future global voyages, we know that our guests are eager to return to their favorite Crystal experiences.”

Roig continued: “Travellers are seeking more peace of mind and flexibility as they plan their future journeys, and Easy Book – along with several other current Crystal special offers – provides these things, making it easier than ever to book the luxury vacation they’ve been craving.”

Easy Book is combinable with several Crystal savings programs currently available, including Crystal’s all-inclusive 2-for-1 Book Now Fares, Crystal Society Savings, Early Final Payment Savings and Combination Voyage Savings. Standard final payment and cancellation schedules apply.

And while its fleet is paused, Crystal said that its team is developing new procedures and policies that will support all public health and regulatory requirements. Details of the new measures and initiatives will be available on the Crystal website shortly.

Go to www.crystalcruises.com .

Atlas Ocean Voyages is advising that its Adventure Expedition Cruise brand is augmenting its inaugural-year offerings with four new Transatlantic, Caribbean and South America itineraries in October and November 2021.

World Navigator – which launches in July 2021 – is Atlas Ocean Voyages’ first ship and will cruise the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to the Southern Caribbean islands before bringing guests along South America’s east coast to Tierra del Fuego.

Alberto Aliberti, president of Atlas Ocean Voyages, said that: “Beginning July 2021, Atlas Ocean Voyages’ distinct, excitement-driven Luxe-Adventure journeys will offer new world explorers an unmatched travel experience aboard our new, safe, small, clean and green ship, World Navigator.”

Aliberti continued: “We’ve adjusted our inaugural-year deployment to bring World Navigator to the Caribbean so U.S. and Canadian travellers can embark on an adventure closer to home. And, the new Transatlantic, Caribbean and South America itineraries provide our valued travel advisor partners more options when discussing future 2021 travel with their clients and to take advantage of our GET PAID NOW offer.”

Travellers save up to $2,000 per suite and stateroom, and receive free air travel and more, on bookings made by June 30, 2020:

• $1,000 savings plus FREE business-class air travel per suite guest
• $500 savings plus FREE economy-class air per Horizon- or Veranda-stateroom guest
• Reduced, 50-percent deposit
• FREE changes to any itinerary, departing before March 31, 2022

Brandon Townsley, vice president of sales and trade partnerships, pointed out that: “We’re expanding our GET PAID NOW offer, the industry’s most generous and immediate incentive program, to include our new Caribbean and South American Luxe-Adventure journeys to recognize Travel Advisors for their hard work.”

Townsley continued: “In addition to their 15% commission, we will reward them with a $500 or $750 gift card now. Their clients also have confidence that they can change – for free – their Luxe-Adventure journey of a lifetime to any other itinerary through March 2022.”

Travel Advisors can take advantage of Atlas Ocean Voyages’ GET PAID NOW offer for all deposited World Navigator 2021/22 bookings and receive:

• A $750 gift card per suite NOW
• A $500 gift card per Horizon and Veranda stateroom NOW
• 15% commission

For more on Atlas Ocean Voyages, sail on over to www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com .

Crystal River Cruises is rewarding travel advisors with a new program that benefits them and their discerning clientele.

The cruise company’s new Advance Purchase Savings program offers guests a non-refundable fare of $3,699 per person – representing a savings of up to 50% – for the best available suite at the time of booking.

The program applies to over 60 seven-night Crystal River voyages from March through December 2021 – 10 unique itineraries in all – along the Danube and Rhine rivers as well as the waterways of Holland and Belgium.

In addition to the savings on offer, guests also have the flexibility to change their embarkation date to another applicable sailing with no penalty, should they choose to do so before Dec. 31, 2020.

Travel advisors will receive a $250 gift card for each booking and full commission payout once payment is received within seven days of booking.

As well, both Crystal’s senior vice-president of marketing and sales,   Carmen Roig and its senior vice-president and managing director, Walter Littlejohn thanked travel advisors and shared their personal insights and sentiments for the travel advisor community in a video message  celebrating Travel Advisor Day as this new program launches.

Said Roig: “The travel advisor community is absolutely essential to the success we have enjoyed since Crystal began more than 30 years ago.” And Roig continued: “They are the most trusted resources for our guests who are dreaming of a luxury voyage, and their expertise and support means the world to us.”

Littlejohn pointed out that: “This new program is a wonderful opportunity to show our appreciation for our travel advisor partners by providing an immediate earning opportunity, while also providing another compelling tool for them to share the Crystal River Experience with significant savings and flexibility.”

And Littlejohn added: “We know that our guests are looking forward to traveling again and value the ability to plan their journeys with this added peace of mind.”

Applicable sailings for the new Best Available program include select “Romantic Rhine”, “Legendary Rhine”, “Delightful Danube”, “Danube Serenade”, “Tulips & Windmills”, “Christmas Time on the Rhine” and “Delightful Danube Christmas” itineraries. Advance Purchase Savings bookings are open on a first-come, first-served basis and are capacity-controlled.

For more, sail on over to www.crystalcruises.com.

Scenic Group Looks To The Future

The Scenic Group has announced that steel cutting for Scenic Eclipse II has commenced in Croatia as the initial step in the construction of the world’s second Discovery Ship.

A newly formed company, MKM Yachts, wholly owned by the Scenic Group, will now take full responsibility for all new ocean ship builds starting with the construction of Scenic Eclipse II.

MKM Yachts confirmed an agreement with the Croatian government to commence shipbuilding operations in a dedicated separate section of the existing Maj 3 Shipyard in Rijeka.

The 228-passenger ultra-luxury mega yacht, designed especially for polar expedition cruising conditions, “heralds an exciting new era for the Scenic Group.”

Go to www.scenic.ca for more.