Cruise Industry News | Canada's Travel Industry

By Bob Mowat

May 15, 2012

Thinking big at Vacation.com

Vacation.com hosted some 1,200 travel agents, suppliers and staff aboard Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas last week for its 14th International Conference & Trade Show. "Think Big" was the theme and Vacation.com Canada's Christine James said: "This year's conference sets the standard as the ultimate travel industry event ... Participation has exceeded expectations and with our action-packed seven days of education, entertainment and networking, it's no surprise we sold out early." This year's event marked Vacation.com's first-ever International Conference at sea and featured...

By Bob Mowat

May 15, 2012

Costa doubling up in Asia

Costa Cruises plans to position a second cruise ship in Asia beginning in May 2013. Currently, the line operates the 2,394-passenger Costa Victoria in Asia and will start sailing from Shanghai May 18, 2012. The Costa Victoria replaces the 1,680-passenger Costa Classica, which has been repositioned to the Mediterranean. In May 2013 the 2,680-passenger Costa Atlantica will also be deployed in the region, giving Costa a combined total passenger capacity of 5,074 -- a 67% increase. With the debut of Costa Victoria in May 2012 and Costa Atlantica in May 2013, Costa Cruises will offer a unique...

By TravelPress Staff

May 14, 2012

ASTA praises new US tourism strategy

The National Travel and Tourism Strategy -- a newly announced initiative to stimulate domestic and international travel in order to create jobs and help rebuild the US economy -- is being praised by ASTA CEO Tony Gonchar for its "strong and decisive steps in making the United States the world's top global tourism destination."Gonchar was a participant in a high-level government-industry meeting May 10 at which the Strategy was presented by U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar just before its public release. "We commend President Obama and...

By TravelPress Staff

May 14, 2012

cruise3sixty conference sails to success

Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) 8th annual cruise3sixty conference and trade show, April 25-30 at the Broward Country Convention Center in Florida, proved to be a big success, registering more than 1,200 travel agent delegates from seven Canadian provinces, 42 US states and 13 other countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Australia. A record-breaking 3,144 participants attended the 18 CLIA professional development and training seminars, up from 1,365 when cruise3sixty was first established. The focus of the conference was the future of travel agents as CLIA,...

By TravelPress Staff

May 14, 2012

Bestselling authors hit the high seas with Silversea

Bestselling novelists Mary Higgins Clark and Lynne Truss are set to join an eclectic array of prominent guest speakers sailing aboard Silver Whisper's World Cruise in 2013, a 115-day journey from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, departing Jan. 5. Crossing the equator four times, the World Cruise itinerary will follow the tropical belt to 52 destinations in 28 countries with overnight stays in several key ports. The warm-weather journey will explore a realm of far-flung cultures and scenic wonders including New Zealand and Australia's remote west coast; the idyllic isles of French Polynesia;...

By Bob Mowat

May 11, 2012

Un-Cruising renewed

InnerSea Discoveries/American Safari Cruises reports that major renovation projects -- including new hull colours, interior spaces, furnishings and amenities -- on the 86-passenger Safari Endeavour and the 76-passenger Wilderness Explorer will be completed for a May 18, 2012 dual-boat christening event in Seattle and a summer season of un-cruise adventures in Alaska. The company operates three expedition vessels and three yachts on programs that include Alaska, Mexico's Sea of Cortes, the Pacific Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands. Tim Jacox, the company's executive vice-president of sales...

By Bob Mowat

May 11, 2012

Summer unveiled by Voyages of Discovery

Voyages of Discovery has unveiled details of its 2013 summer cruising with the release of a new brochure. The cruise company's Summer 2013 Cruise Collection showcases itineraries that feature over 22 new ports of call on sailings aboard the 550-guest Voyager , which joined the fleet at the end of 2012, and the 650-guest Discovery, which is undergoing extensive refurbishments to feature 86% outside accommodations and 35 suites -- 30 with outside balconies. Guests who book from the 2013 Summer brochure by July 31, 2012 will receive 15% off the early booking fares. All fares cited are per...

By TravelPress Staff

May 10, 2012

Princess to base ship year round in San Francisco

For the first time, Princess Cruises will base a ship in San Francisco year round, beginning in May 2013. The extensively renovated Grand Princess will first offer a series of Alaska cruises during the summer months from the "City by the Bay,"followed by a schedule of Hawaiian Islands, Mexico and the California Coast sailings during the fall 2013 to spring 2014 season. Last year the 2,600-passenger Grand Princess underwent the largest drydock in Princess history, adding a host of new features, including a completely new Piazza atrium, several new eateries - including Alfredo's Pizzeria and...

By TravelPress Staff

May 9, 2012

Crystal unveils full 2013/early 2014 calendar

Crystal Cruises has released its latest Worldwide Cruise Atlas for all of 2013 and winter/spring 2014. The 170-page book showcases the line's innovative new brand campaign, "Begin a New Story,"which shares personal travel stories, images and mementos in journal-like form. Profiling 84 itineraries in more than 75 countries and 250 plus ports, the pages all share story elements of sailing aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. "This Atlas showcases the Crystal experience in a very different, emotional and sensory way, so that, through the personal stories of our own guests, other...

By TravelPress Staff

May 8, 2012

Princess giving away 100 cruises in new agent contest

Princess Cruises is giving away 100 cruises in a new "Europe 100"contest, featuring a race to see which travel agents can sell the most 2012 Europe cruises and cruisetours between May 1 and June 30. The top 100 agents will each win a 12-day Mediterranean cruise for two so they too can "escape completely"among the wonders of Europe. "Our Europe program is just now getting underway, but there are still excellent sales opportunities left,"said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice-president of sales, marketing and customer service. "This contest adds some extra selling excitement to the...