CRUISE ADVISER THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES DECEMBER 2017 WIN! AN iPAD WITH FRED OLSEN! p59 SAILING INTO A NEW GOLDEN AGE OF CRUISE The new launches, innovations and destinations to look forward to in 2018 PLUS VIKING RIVER CRUISES ON THE DANUBE HOW TO SELL: YOUR FIRST CRUISE PORTS OF CALL: SYDNEY DISCOVER PREMIUM EXPERIENCES ON BOARD NORWEGIAN BLISS Meet our newest and most incredible cruise ship, custom-built for Alaska. DISCOVER PREMIUM EXPERIENCES ON BOARD INVITE YOUR CUSTOMERS TO EXPERIENCE BLISS That’s what they’ll experience when a seaplane flight over the 36 named ALASKA HIGHLIGHTS they holiday on our newest and most glaciers of the huge Juneau Icefield. FROM SEATTLE incredible ship, Norwegian Bliss, NORWEGIAN BLISS • 7-DAY CRUISE And what’s more, your customers 01 June – 21 September 2018 coming to Alaska in 2018. Custom- will experience a brand new sense built for Alaska, Norwegian Bliss of freedom at sea with Norwegian features a revolutionary Observation Cruise Line’s Premium All SK AGWAY Lounge to soak in every stunning JUNEAU Inclusive. Holiday budgeting has Sawyer Glacier moment, from bald eagles soaring over never been easier because there is so glaciers to whales breaching through much more included in the cruise fare, KETCHIKAN calm waters in the inside passage. like soft and branded alcoholic drinks in SPECTACULAR ALASKA all bars, lounges and restaurants, service After launching in Europe, charges, speciality coffees in restaurants PACIFIC VICTORIA OCEAN Norwegian Bliss will be making her and mineral water in staterooms. SEATTLE way to Alaska in June next year. Sailing So, on board they’ll experience the best from Seattle, her itinerary will take in dining, entertainment and amenities at Premium All Inclusive Cruise only price fascinating ports like Skagway, once sea against a backdrop of unrivalled from £1,119 p.p.* the gateway to the Yukon Gold Rush natural beauty. There’s one word to and still redolent of that wild era and describe the experiences awaiting them Premium All Inclusive Fly-Cruise price Juneau, from where excursions include on Norwegian’s newest ship: Bliss. from £2,718 p.p.* TO BOOK CALL 0333 241 2319 OR CHECK OUT OUR NEWEST SHIP BY VISITING EU.BLISS.NCL.COM *Cruise fare based on 08 Sep 2018 departure, for double occupancy, depending on availability and subject to change. Including all Premium All Inclusive services at a value of more than £1,200 per stateroom (based on a 7-day cruise in stateroom categories up to Mini Suite and the current retail prices charged on board as well as the applicable discretionary service charge). Please see www.ncl.co.uk for full terms and conditions. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., Southampton, UK Office 4th Floor | Mountbatten House | Southampton | SO15 2JU. ©2017 NCL Corporation Ltd. Ships‘ Registry: Bahamas and United States of America. 6704.11.17 6704_Fi_Bliss_Cruise_Advisor_170x245_AD_UK.indd 1 20/11/2017 13:16 December 2017 | Forward EDITOR’S LETTER THIS MONTH Setting sail for an WHAT WE LEARNT exciting future in 2018 P13 CRUISE ADVISER Hello and (p13), including Ponant’s new luxury THE ONLY DESTINATION FOR THOSE SELLING CRUISES DECEMBER 2017 welcome to the yachts (p38). For this issue, we’ve WIN! AN iPAD WITH FRED OLSEN! p59 December issue of spoken to some of the industry’s Cruise Adviser, most important figures, including reviewing the Royal Caribbean’s Stuart Leven and year gone by and Abta’s Mark Tanzer, to ask them the SAILING INTO A NEW GOLDEN AGE previewing all question: where next for cruise? OF CRUISE The new launches, innovations and destinations to look forward to in 2018 PLUS VIKING RIVER CRUISES ON THE DANUBE HOW TO SELL: YOUR FIRST CRUISE that’s in store (p22). This month, our How to Sell PORTS OF CALL: SYDNEY for 2018. This guide is aimed at agents who are CELEBRITY’S NEW SHIP magazine is a significant one for us in either new to cruise themselves or HAS 360-DEGREE VIEWS that it marks our third anniversary. have customers who haven’t cruised Celebrity Flora has been Since we published our first issue before; here, we provide nine designed especially for the in December 2014, we’ve grown to incredible options to rival any land- Galápagos Islands become the most widely read trade based alternative (p40). cruise publication in the UK, with 10 We’re also giving away an iPad issues a year and a sister publication to one lucky reader as part of P16 in Solus (solusmagazine.com). In our competition with Fred Olsen 2018, we are set to grow again with Cruise Lines (p59). a range of supplements, events, more We’ll be back in January with a competitions, a fresh look and much bumper issue for Wave, plus our more. We can’t wait to reveal all. unique, comprehensive ex-UK guide Of course, we’re not the only ones pullout, produced in association with exciting plans: there are with Choosing Cruising. a whole host of new ships launching We hope you enjoy reading. SYDNEY IS GETTING MORE POPULAR The number of cruise passengers in the Australian city has grown by double figures for the last 12 years P31 THE ITALIAN LAKES ARE CRUISE ADVISER is brought to Sales executive Bryan Johnson Digital you by Waterfront Publishing [email protected] cruise-adviser.com THE NEW HOTSPOT 020 3865 9338 facebook.com/cruiseadviser twitter.com/cruiseadviser Holidays on the beautiful Art director Jensen Brianson Sign up to our weekly update at Lake Garda, Lake Como, Lake Designer Matthew Coles cruise-adviser.com/subscribe Sub-editor Nathaniel Cramp Lugano and Lake Maggiore Publisher Sam Ballard CRUISE ADVISER is published ten [email protected] CRUISE ADVISER times a year by Waterfront are in demand for 2018 Waterfront Publishing, Publishing Limited (registered Publisher Anthony Pearce Arch 462, Kingsland Viaduct, number: 08707515). All rights [email protected] 83 Rivington Street, reserved. Reproduction in London, EC2A 3AY whole or in part without written Head of sales Simon Leeming permission is strictly prohibited. [email protected] [email protected] CRUISE ADVISER is printed by 020 3865 9337 020 3865 9360 Wyndeham Grange CRUISE-ADVISER.COM 3 Exotic Fly-Cruise Adventures Guests Never Forget Fred. Olsen’s passion for showing the very best of the world has inspired an outstanding collection of exotic Fly-Cruise adventures. Your clients can now discover the highlights of South Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, South America or as far afield as Australia. They can fly straight to the heart of their chosen region, and wake each day to the next of their wish-list destinations. Wherever they choose to explore, they can rest assured they’ll enjoy it in the warmer, friendlier atmosphere that’s always found on Fred. Olsen ships. Win an iPad courtesy of Fred. Olsen Turn to page 59 for further details For further information call Trade Support on 01473 746 164 Visit our dedicated agent website at fredolsencruises.com/agent FOC405805_Cruise_Adviser_Fly-Cruise_DPS_Ad_W/C_13.11.17_FV.indd All Pages 20/11/2017 12:51 Exotic Fly-Cruise Adventures Guests Never Forget Fred. Olsen’s passion for showing the very best of the world has inspired an outstanding collection of exotic Fly-Cruise adventures. Your clients can now discover the highlights of South Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, South America or as far afield as Australia. They can fly straight to the heart of their chosen region, and wake each day to the next of their wish-list destinations. Wherever they choose to explore, they can rest assured they’ll enjoy it in the warmer, friendlier atmosphere that’s always found on Fred. Olsen ships. Win an iPad courtesy of Fred. Olsen Turn to page 59 for further details For further information call Trade Support on 01473 746 164 Visit our dedicated agent website at fredolsencruises.com/agent FOC405805_Cruise_Adviser_Fly-Cruise_DPS_Ad_W/C_13.11.17_FV.indd All Pages 20/11/2017 12:51 WIN! AN iPAD WITH FRED OLSEN! p59 The incredible pool at the Corinthia Budapest hotel, p44 Contents MIDSHIP 22 Where next for cruise? 38 InFocus: Ponant families, couples and Several leading industry A profile of the luxury line solo travellers in a few figures talk about what the that takes French style and simple steps future holds in 2018 and sophistication to every far- beyond, looking at changes flung corner of the world 44 Danube in innovation, legislation, Napoleon called it the luxury and family cruises, 40 How to sell: “queen of European rivers” the rise of river, meeting your first cruise and Sam Ballard finds out the needs of millennials and Our handy guide shows why as he joins Viking from destination hotspots you how to sell to first-time Nuremberg to Budapest CRUISE-ADVISER.COM 6 Winter Sun Cruises in the Med Escape the wet and cold weather and sail warmer Mediterranean destinations on CroisiEurope’s 4-deck Premium ship MS Belle de l’Adriatique. New cruise itineraries include Sicily, Malta, Albania, Montenegro and Cyprus. HIGHLIGHTS: Incredible places - Irresistible prices • Due to its size, ship docks in small harbours • Fascinating excursions that bring history & culture to life • Unlimited drinks • Superb Gourmet cuisine • Free Wi-Fi IM067100025 - ©maridav - ©janos gaspard INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS ✆ 0208 3281 281 [email protected] www.croisieurope.co.uk December 2017 | Forward FORWARD 3 Ed’s letter 12 News Azamara Club Cruises’ plans for a special christening event for Azamara Pursuit in Southampton next year; a full list of 2018 launches; the latest innovations from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity AFT 60 Recipe James Martin’s scrumptious 16 Ports of Call: Sydney