Cruise Industry News | Canada's Travel Industry

By TravelPress Staff

January 10, 2012

New Silversea program puts the focus on slow food

Silversea Cruises has introduced a new "Slow Food Adventure in Tuscany"land option that will debut this year on three Mediterranean voyages. In collaboration with Slow Food Italy, Silversea has designed an exclusive three-night program that will highlight the culinary and cultural traditions of Tuscany and introduce participants to local wine producers and products that adhere to the Slow Food philosophy of preserving biodiversity and gastronomic traditions. The program will be conducted with one or more members of Silversea's own culinary team on hand to provide participants with expert...

By TravelPress Staff

January 10, 2012

Carnival revamps MICE web site

Carnival Cruise Lines' web site for meeting, corporate event and incentive planners, http://www.carnivalmeetings.com , has been revamped and features more intuitive, user-friendly features than ever before. The enhanced site is filled with up-to-date and detailed information on the line's 23-ship fleet, as well as the benefits and value of hosting a program with Carnival. Meeting, corporate event and incentive planners will be able to easily locate all information needed for planning their next value-driven program utilizing the new and intuitive layout. According to Joni Rein, Carnival's...

By TravelPress Staff

January 9, 2012

Crystal ends 2011 with record bookings

Crystal Cruises closed the year with its highest ever December booking week for its subsequent year of cruises - more than double the revenue of any prior year for the last week in December. According to officials, with the Dec. 31 expiration of "Book Now"fares, agents rushed to book 2012 cruises at the line's lowest rates. With the beginning of the New Year, Crystal has announced a new "Book Now"deadline of Feb. 28 for 2012 and early 2013 cruises. Crystal president Gregg Michel attributes the booking success to Crystal's "Book Now"fares and the compelling price/value equation of its...

By TravelPress Staff

January 9, 2012

Royal Caribbean has ‘Vision’ in the Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International opened Vision of the Seas' winter 2012-13 Caribbean season for sale. Travellers can choose among 19 Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises, ranging from 10 to 15 nights and sailing roundtrip from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. According to officials, Vision of the Seas' new seasonal itineraries are destination rich and visit smaller Caribbean islands less travelled by the cruise line's larger ships. Variations of a 10-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary features calls at Tortola, St. Maarten, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Croix and Martinique. Cruisers...

By TravelPress Staff

January 9, 2012

Booking with Encore could lead to free luggage

Encore Cruises is offering a free children's Trunki luggage when your clients book a family cruise. The offer is valid on all new bookings with a minimum of seven night's sailing to any destination when a minimum of two adults and one child are booked. This promotion is available while quantities last. These fun, colourful and most importantly practical travel cases are the perfect travel size for children to keep their favourite toys on hand when travelling. Agents are advised to use promo code ADTPRO TRUN when booking....

By TravelPress Staff

January 6, 2012

Kenny G to host special Celebrity Alaska sailing

Grammy Award-winning artist Kenny G has chartered Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Millennium to create a special vacation experience in Alaska, May 17-24, 2013. The world-renowned saxophonist will not only offer multiple performances during the sailing, but also will mix and mingle with guests onboard throughout the cruise. Other recognized artists, yet to be announced, will also perform during the sailing. "I'm excited for the opportunity to cruise with my closest fans aboard Celebrity Millennium,"said Kenny G. "The experience of playing with my band and sharing the breathtaking sights of one...

By TravelPress Staff

January 6, 2012

Sell two, sail free on Crystal

Through January, Crystal Cruises is sweetening its successful "sail free"incentive for travel agents. Agents need only sell two staterooms on any of Crystal Serenity's 20 all-inclusive Mediterranean, Western European or transatlantic cruises departing May through December to earn a Crystal cruise for themselves in 2012. The offer applies to all new double occupancy bookings made between Dec. 1, 2011 and Jan. 31, 2012. To sail free, agents have a choice of most Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony cruises in 2012. Crystal Cruises' 2012 European season begins May 8 when Crystal Serenity sails...

By TravelPress Staff

January 5, 2012

Princess Balcony Bonus Sale

Princess Cruises is offering special fares on cruises to Europe and Alaska - with a Balcony Bonus Sale through Jan. 31. Passengers who book during the event can save up to $1,000 per couple off Launch Fares, plus receive a free balcony upgrade. The sale also includes Europe and Alaska cruisetours, with savings on these land and sea cruise vacations that travel to the heart of the Alaska wilderness to see the majesty of Denali or that take in some of Europe's most spectacular inland destinations, including Classic Italy, Ancient Petra or the Swiss Alps....

By TravelPress Staff

January 5, 2012

NCL targets families with new youth program

To better meet the needs of the growing family vacation market, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is revitalizing its current youth program and will implement a new program fleet-wide. The re-branded program will be introduced on Norwegian Gem in mid-February and will be rolled out to all of the line's ships subsequently. "More and more families are choosing a cruise for their vacation since it represents such a good value and offers so much for the entire family. In fact, close to 150,000 children sailed on our ships in 2010 and that number continues to rise,"said NCL chief executive Kevin...

By TravelPress Staff

January 4, 2012

Gauguin PEARLS program a hit with agents

Paul Gauguin Cruises newly introduced PEARLS Accredited Partner Program is proving successful with more than 1,200 agents registering and 600 agents already graduating. A self-paced specialist training program, this recent initiative allows agents "to become truly immersed in the Paul Gauguin experience."PEARLS (Partners Earn Added Rewards and Learn to Sell) enables partners to identify and connect with prospective clients more accurately, as well as to successfully promote Paul Gauguin Cruises. When agents successfully complete the certification program, each will have access to a list of...