Cruise Industry News | Canada's Travel Industry

By TravelPress Staff

April 5, 2012

Liberty, Navigator and Serenade set sail for Europe

Royal Caribbean International has announced that Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas will be among the cruise line's ships in 2013 to deliver the culture, history and cuisine that Europe has to offer. This latest deployment opening offers 121 sailings on 25 itineraries that call on 30 ports. This is in addition to the already announced Independence of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas' deployment from Southampton, U.K. Royal Caribbean's 2013 Europe cruises and Cruisetours for these five ships are open for booking and additional deployments in the region will...

By TravelPress Staff

April 4, 2012

Paul Gauguin unveils Tere Moana tineraries

Paul Gauguin Cruises has unveiled 2013 itineraries for the cruise line's second ship, the 90-passenger Tere Moana, which will offer voyages in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. In the tradition of Paul Gauguin, cruise fares for The Moana are all-inclusive with gratuities, soft drinks, select wines and spirits included. After undergoing a multifaceted renovation to be completed in December, The Moana will set sail under the Paul Gauguin Cruises' banner on Dec. 29 on a gala seven-night Caribbean voyage with chairman Richard Bailey aboard. The Moana will sail 13 itineraries in 2013. Like...

By TravelPress Staff

April 3, 2012

NCL cruises to an extended Wave Season

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is extending its "Norwegians Take it to the Next Level"sales event through April 15. All new cruise reservations on all ships booked through April 15 will receive a free upgrade within the same stateroom category, along with e-coupons providing onboard savings worth $400 (for sailings taking place before Dec. 31). As a special bonus, the line is offering cruisers the opportunity to "take it to the next level"with a mini-suite for the price of a balcony; balcony staterooms for the price of an oceanview, and oceanview staterooms for the price of inside staterooms on...

By Bob Mowat

April 2, 2012

Azamara Quest safely ashore

The Azamara Quest has been brought safely ashore in Malaysia after spending 24 hours adrift in Philippine waters following an engine room fire in which five crew members suffered smoke inhalation. The fire was immediately extinguished, but the Quest was stranded off the southern Philippines with about 1,000 people aboard, including 45 Canadians. Propulsion was restored the next night and the ship reached the harbour of Sandakan city in Malaysia's eastern state of Sabah on Borneo island late Sunday. The rest of the cruise has been cancelled and according to reports passengers will be fully...

By TravelPress Staff

March 30, 2012

Rhapsody ‘revitalized’

After a month-long US$54 million dry dock, Royal Caribbean International's Rhapsody of the Seas has emerged from Singapore's Sembawang Shipyard as a virtually new ship. The newly revitalized Rhapsody features a host of new dining options, visually stunning entertainment and unique amenities after the ship's bow-to-stern transformation. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy all of the vessel's new signature features as they sail in Alaska this summer or Australia in the fall. The all-encompassing revitalization introduced a range of guest amenities and premium experiences, including the...

By TravelPress Staff

March 29, 2012

AmaWaterways names CLIA president newest godmother

AmaWaterways has announced that Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) president Christine Duffy is to be the godmother of its newest ship, the AmaCerto. Duffy is entrusted to guide the AmaCerto and will bless it at the christening ceremony in Vilshofen, Germany on May 16. "We knew the AmaCerto needed a godmother befitting to the modern elegance of the beautiful ship,"said Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways' executive vice-president and co-owner. "Christine Duffy's long history in the industry and her love for cruising makes her the perfect fit. We are so pleased to know our beloved AmaCerto...

By TravelPress Staff

March 28, 2012

Sun Princess sailing into Japan

Responding to a growing interest for cruising in Japan, Carnival Corporation & plc is introducing the largest deployment ever by a global cruise line in the Japanese market when it brings Sun Princess to Japan for a spring to summer season of cruising in April 2013. Princess Cruises is launching an 87-day program featuring a total of nine cruises on seven different itineraries operating April through July of next year from both Yokohama and Kobe. The cruises will be from nine to 12 days in length. The unique itineraries have been customized for the Japanese vacation market, and will launch...

By TravelPress Staff

March 28, 2012

Time running out on Compagnie du Ponant campaign

Now is the time for agents to contact clients interested in exploring many of the world's unique sights and remote ports, while enjoying the intimacy of a private yacht with all the accompanying amenities, superior service and gourmet meals -- while substantial savings are still available. Compagnie du Ponant's Wave Season campaign, "La Grande Invitation,"ends on April 15 and offers an array of extra incentives for 2012 bookings. Guests can save up to US$3,260 on fares as well as receive a US$400 shipboard credit (both per stateroom), and complimentary "Open Beverage and Spirits"package...

By TravelPress Staff

March 28, 2012

Air Canada Vacations catches the wave

Air Canada Vacations (ACV) has launched its 2012-2013 cruise collection and new online booking engine. ACV's new online cruise booking engine allows agents to quickly and easily manage their bookings 24 hours a day. Offering 14 international cruise lines, this engine includes search options by date, cruise line and destination. It also provides real-time pricing and booking capacities, making it "a one-stop shop and valuable tool for travel partners to improve their booking conversion rates."The new 2012- 2013 brochure introduces two new services available through Air Canada Vacations: Flight...

By TravelPress Staff

March 28, 2012

Cruise Strategies appointment

Shirley Lew has been appointed director of sales, Eastern Canada, at Cruise Strategies Ltd. Based in based in the Toronto area, she is responsible for the company's sales efforts in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Lew has garnered extensive travel industry experience in the last 20 years and has worked in multiple sectors of the hospitality industry, spanning two continents in three countries, which has included the airline industry, resort management, retail travel and tour operations. She is also proficient in French and Cantonese. Most recently, she served as the national business...