Cruise Industry News | Canada's Travel Industry

By TravelPress Staff

April 30, 2012

CLIA calls for industry to elevate role of agents

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has introduced a new report calling for a travel-industry dialogue aimed at elevating the role of the travel agent industry, a critical sales force for the entire travel and tourism industry. CLIA's report, "From Travel Agent to 'Travel Advisor': Defining, Elevating and Promoting the Role of Travel Agents for the Next Generation,"outlines the state of the travel agent business today, emphasizing the important role it plays for the broader travel industry, and identifies some of the key issues that the profession must address to continue to be...

By TravelPress Staff

April 30, 2012

Scenic Cruises christens new Crystal

Glen Moroney, Scenic Cruises' founder and managing director, was in Rüdesheim, Germany this week to launch the company's sixth "Space-Ship,"Scenic Crystal. The ship boasts the company's signature all-inclusive formula as well as a new feature called the Scenic "Sun Lounge."Cabins offer sealable units that act as a vertical sliding door, converting from a private, open-air balcony to a fully weatherproof lounge with the simple touch of a button. Scenic Crystal, which can host 169 passengers in 85 cabins, joins the line's five other "Space-Ships,"the Scenic Pearl, Scenic Emerald, Scenic...

By TravelPress Staff

April 30, 2012

Carnival to return to Boston in 2013

With less than six weeks until the start-up of Carnival Cruise Lines' first extended schedule from Boston aboard the Carnival Glory, the cruise line and Cruiseport Boston have announced that the ship will return to the refurbished Black Falcon Cruise Terminal in 2013 to operate a series of cruises to Atlantic Canada next summer. When Glory arrives in Boston next year, it will offer a variety of new dining, bar and entertainment options that are being added during a drydock in November as part of the line's ongoing "Fun Ship 2.0"enhancement program. Carnival Glory's 2013 schedule from Boston...

By TravelPress Staff

April 27, 2012

Crystal set ‘fore’ Europe 2012

Crystal Cruises has lined up 10 of Europe's top championship golf courses for exclusive, luxury play during two limited-access "Experiences of Discovery"golf-themed cruises this summer. Hosted by 51-time PGA tour winner Billy Casper, travellers can strike balls in Spain, Portugal, and Monaco during Crystal Serenity's July 13 voyage or throughout the British Isles on Crystal Symphony's Aug. 25 sailing. Courses include: Edinburgh/Rosyth: Gleneagles King's and Queen's Courses; Barcelona: Real Club de Golf El Prat, Club de Golf Masia Bach; Monte Carlo: Monte Carlo Golf Club; Valencia: El Saler...

By TravelPress Staff

April 27, 2012

Princess raises the curtain on new entertainment venue

Princess Cruises has raised the curtain on Princess Live!, a new type of entertainment venue aboard the Royal Princess. Taking passengers behind the scenes to share the excitement of a working television studio, the high-tech Princess Live! will showcase live television broadcasts, intimate performances from musicians and special events such as cooking shows, plus will feature an adjacent café. Located on Royal Princess' deck 7 just aft of the Piazza, Princess Live! will be a flexible, 280-seat venue based on a television broadcast studio. When the ship debuts in June 2013, Princess...

By TravelPress Staff

April 26, 2012

Avalon gets busy in 2013

On the heels of announcing two new Suite Ships in Europe and Avalon Choice, Avalon Waterways is also unveiling plans to add five new itineraries plus a new themed cruise to its roster of cruise options. "We're not only expanding choices as far as dining and excursion options go,"says Stéphanie Bishop of Avalon's Canadian office. "We now have more itineraries throughout Europe, including a new Culinary Cruise in northern France -- which I know will be a huge success with Canadians."The company is also adding a cruise along China's Yangtze River, aboard two new ships. Avalon is expanding...

By TravelPress Staff

April 25, 2012

Costa Fascinosa set for May 5 delivery

Costa Fascinosa, Costa Cruises' new flagship, will be officially delivered to the cruise line in Venice on May 5. The 114,500-ton, 3,800-guest cruise ship was built at Fincantieri's Marghera yard. Fascinosa has successfully completed sea trials, passing a series of running tests on its systems, machinery and engines, and will be officially handed over to Costa Cruises by Fincantieri a day before a scheduled preview cruise. On May 6, Costa Fascinosa is scheduled to depart Venice bound for Slovenia; Trieste, Italy, and Croatia on a cruise hosting the 19th edition of "Champions of the Sea,"an...

By TravelPress Staff

April 25, 2012

Encore offers agents ‘charming’ incentive

Effective tomorrow, Encore Cruises is offering agents a free sterling silver Pandora charm bracelet (valued at $200) as part of its new "Charming"incentive for booking with Encore. The offer is valid on new bookings made between April 25 and June 22, when booking either seven balcony and/or suite categories, or 10 inside and/or oceanview categories with AMAWaterways, Azamara Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Paul Gauguin, Regent Seven Seas or Royal Caribbean International. Each cruise booking must be a minimum of a seven-night sailing. Agents...

By Bob Mowat

April 24, 2012

Cruise industry unveils new safety policies

CLIA and the European Cruise Council (ECC) released details of three new safety policies that have been adopted and which will be immediately implemented. The announcement was made by Manfredi Lefebvre, chairman of the ECC and member of CLIA's executive committee, during a presentation at a major European Commission-organized Passenger Ship Safety event in Brussels. Lefebvre outlined how these policies have been agreed to by the industry and that they represent the third such announcement arising from the cruise industry's Operational Safety Review. The three new policies address issues...

By TravelPress Staff

April 24, 2012

Celebrity in the game with live airing of the Olympics

It's estimated that more than one billion people will tune in for this year's Olympic Games in the host city of London, and Celebrity Cruises has arranged the rare opportunity for guests sailing on its fleet to be among them. From the eagerly anticipated Opening Ceremony July 27 to the celebratory Closing Ceremony Aug. 12, Celebrity will broadcast "live"via satellite the swimming, diving, gymnastics, rowing, cycling, athletics and basketball events, in addition to airing daily compilations of highlights from all 26 sports featured in the Games of the XXX Olympiad. On Celebrity ships sailing...