THURSDAY 21st APRIL 2011 www.cruiseweekly.com.au JMAK= Ph: 1300 799 220 Fax: 1300 799 221 :((./< Email: [email protected] Editors: Louise Goldsbury & Amanda Collins
TODAY’S CRUISE WEEKLY CCS launches new agent websites Welcome to today’s Cruise Weekly Trade Complete Cruise Solution’s Designed as a 24/7 online cruise hub, edition featuring five pages of all the latest features include instant access to POLAR cruise industry news. ‘My CCS’ includes extra Online’s booking portal, special offers, news, deck plans, images, event details and event features such as customised registration across all CCS brands. AIDAsol christening marketing tools. In a new initiative, agents can also use the THIS MONTH, GERMAN CRUISE LINE AIDA CRUISES THE MUCH ANTICIPATED CRUISE DESTINATIONS - sites to customise their own marketing christened its eighth cruise ship, AIDAsol. www.myccs.com.au and www.myccs.co.nz - materials with a Flyer Wizard Tool. Built at the Meyer Werft shipyard AIDAsol is went live yesterday, providing greater According to Don Clark, director of sales, the fifth Sphinx class vessel for AIDA, and support for travel agents in Australia and NZ. My CCS is the company’s biggest-ever single weighs in at 71,000 tons. investment in the trade. “As the cruise industry continues to expand, so too does the role that travel agents play in growing our business,” Clark said. “This website provides all the support that agents need – it’s the ultimate one-stop shop for any agent who wants to increase their cruise sales.” Agents can use their existing POLAR Online login and password to view an introductory video on www.myccs.com.au. HAL’s Europe in 2012 HOLLAND AMERICA LINE WILL FEATURE 44 EUROPEAN itineraries for a total of 103 departures in its 2012 European summer program onboard ms Eurodam, ms Maasdam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Prinsendam, ms Rotterdam and ms Ryndam. The itineraries span from the northern tip of Norway to the Baltic, Black Sea and the Mediterranean and range in length from seven to 35-days. New itineraries for 2012 include a 20-day Portugal, Spain and Canary Islands voyage onboard Ryndam from Rotterdam to Dover priced from US$2,999pp/ts. Other new itineraries also include a 17-day Spanish Rhapsody onboard Rotterdam, a seven-day Norwegian Fjords voyage onboard Click Here Ryndam, Rotterdam or Eurodam and a 14- day Venetian Empire cruise onboard Prinsendam. During the season HAL will also make maiden calls to Durress, Albania; Fowey, England; and Eidfjord, Kirkenes and Ulvik, Norway. For details visit www.traveltheworld.com.au. WELCOME TO THE FUTURE OF RIVER CRUISING.
In 2012, Viking will debut four spectacular sister ships in Europe. Expertly designed with you in mind, these new vessels offer state-of-the-art engineering, design and luxury. Click here to learn more.
Call 1800 829 138 or email [email protected] Visit www.vikingrivercruises.com.au for all details
THE WORLD’S LEADING RIVER CRUISE LINE...BY FAR® cruise weekly Thursday 21st April 2011 page 1 MSC CRUISES NOW AVAILABLE WITH LIVE JMAK= PRICING AT :((./< ECRUISING.TRAVEL
ZZZFUXLVHZHHNO\FRPDX 1300 369 848 www.ecruising.travel CCL to target ‘cruise rookies’ Carnival Cruise Lines plans fit for the Australian market.” Formerly based in Miami as CCL’s director to market its year-round of advertising, Vandekreeke also plans to implement some key ideas from the US to Australian cruises to first- Australia in a bid to lure “cruise rookies”. timers and ‘free spirits’. “We have created a lot of material such as videos and website content that brings the IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CRUISE WEEKLY, JENNIFER cruise experience to life and helps cruise Vandekreeke, CCL’s new director, Australia, Review from rookies envision themselves on a cruise,” she said the line is confident it can introduce said. more locals to “the wonderful world of Cruise3sixty “In our experience, once a cruise rookie cruising” when Carnival Spirit is based full- understands the cruise experience, they Concluding last Sunday was the world’s time in Sydney from 2012. largest cruise conference aimed at retail realise that it’s a great fit for what they’re As the first person to be appointed to the agents – Cruise3sixty. looking for in a holiday and they can’t wait to newly created role, Vandekreeke has high Presented by the ICCA’s North American get onboard and experience it for themselves.” hopes for CCL’s inaugural foray overseas. sister company CLIA, the event took place A main point of differentiation for Carnival “We believe there is still plenty of room for within the Fort Lauderdale (Florida) port Spirit will be its onboard space, with balconies growth here,” she said. precinct where we had a contingent of ICCA in two-thirds of staterooms, Vandekreeke said. members participating. “We feel that the combination of a quality She also confirmed that TTW will retain its The opportunity to participate in seminars experience and free-spirited fun is a perfect and workshops, mix with other cruise specialist role as CCL’s representative for overseas markets. agents and listen to leading cruise industry “Travel the World has been a highly valued professionals from within the North American Upcoming ICCA dates partner of Carnival Cruise Lines and they will market has been nothing short of excellent. continue to represent our North American As part of an opening address by the CEO of THE ICCA IS REMINDING AGENTS OF ITS UPCOMING and European itineraries.” CLIA, Australia/New Zealand was actually training dates: Sydney 17 and 18 May; recognised as the fastest growing cruise source Brisbane 31 May and 01 Jun; Hobart 07 and market in the world. 08 May; Melbourne 09 and 10 Jun; Perth 21 For those of us sitting in the room, we and 22 Jun; Cairns 08 and 09 Jul. certainly felt very proud on behalf of our entire See www.cruising.org.au. industry back home. A highlight on day two of Cruise3sixty was listening to the thoughts and experience of Legends cruise to Bali some very highly credentialed CEO’s from NCL, MSC, Princess and Celebrity cruises as part of a panel discussing the current state of the cruise industry. As a group they are certainly upbeat about where the cruise industry is headed. Through the afternoon of days two and three we had time to participate in an extremely well organised trade show. With the USA being such a mature cruise market it was great to see so many different businesses that recognise the value of the cruise industry and the need to support. Each day of the conference we had the PICTURED ABOVE IS A GROUP OF HARVEY’S opportunity to participate in ship inspections on Choice agents about to enjoy dinner in the a choice of twenty different vessels that Romeo and Juliet Dining Room whilst included Allure and Oasis of the Seas; Ruby onboard Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the and Crown Princess; Norwegian Epic, Pearl Seas for a seven night voyage to Semarang and Dawn; Celebrity Century, Solstice and and Bali. Eclipse; Carnival Liberty, Glory and Valour and Highlights of the voyage included a bridge Holland America’s Rotterdam just to name a tour, trivia games in the Schooner Bar and few! an overnight stay in Bali. Mark April 26-30, 2012 in your diary to join The agents pictured include Cameron the ICCA at this great event. Snow, HWT Tuncurry; Bronwen Milsom, Royal Caribbean’s WA and SA DSM; LeahFollow us on: Simpson, HWT Dubbo; Sally Walls, HWT Charlestown; Jaclyn Turner, HWT Rutherford; Lisa Kyle, HWT Narellan; Nicola Giles, HW Brett Jardine Hols; Nicole Mirams-Harrison, HWT General Manager Corrimal; Sandra O’Connet, HWT Head ICCA Office and Lisa Wilkinson, HW Hols. cruise weekly Thursday 21st April 2011 page 2 CRUISE UNDER FULL SAIL ABOARD STAR CLIPPERS THE LARGEST MODERN TALL SHIPS JMAK= :((./<
PDF FLYER ZZZFUXLVHZHHNO\FRPDX 7 NIGHT WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES AUG-OCT11 SAVE 25% OFF Agents learn that travelling right has its rewards Navigator returns THIS MONTH THE AGENTS AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN HAS ALTERED NAVIGATOR OF THE Travelrite Balwyn in Victoria Seas’ schedule so that instead of spending were surprised by a visit from the 2011-12 winter season in Europe, she Belinda Lopez, Royal will instead cruise the Caribbean. Caribbean Cruises Australia’s Navigator will reposition from the Victorian DSM. Mediterranean to Fort Lauderdale in Nov 2011 In amongst her bag of and instead of running her planned 14-night goodies Lopez pulled out and Med cruises, will feature a range of five- to then presented the team with nine-night Western and Eastern Caribbean a Platinum 2010 Travel Agent itineraries until Apr 2012. Achievement Award for Included in the new schedule is a series of Celebrity Cruises, as well as a alternating six-night Western and eight-night Silver 2010 Travel Agent Eastern Caribbean cruises, as well as a nine- Achievement Award for Royal Caribbean Cruises. night New Year’s Eve cruise departing 30 The team scooped up the awards, according to Royal Caribbean, based on their sales Dec, a seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyage performances last year. departing on 08 and 22 Jan 2012 and a Pictured above proudly displaying the team’s new awards are (from left) Nigel Walliss, seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary Travelrite; Jean Unger, Travelrite; Belinda Lopez, Royal Caribbean Cruises; Laura Brogno, departing 15 Jan 2012. Travelrite; Freya Cawes, Travelrite and Jodi Prigg, Travelrite. Navigator will also host a 15-night transatlantic repositioning cruise from Rome to Port Everglades departing 06 Nov 2011 RCCL support agreement Number 27 revealed and a 15-night return cruise to Rome on 14 MARINE SERVICES PROVIDER WÄRTSILÄ HAS SIGNED PRINCESS CRUISES HAS RELEASED ITS 27TH Apr 2012. a long-term maintenance agreement with ‘Essential Experience’ travel bucket-list blog, According to RCI, the decision to alter RCCL which will see Wärtsilä supply the cruise written this week by Francisco Lopez, the Navigator’s itinerary was made following line with “maintenance planning, spare parts line’s manager of air services. strong demand for Caribbean cruises, and logistics optimisation, the development and In his blog Lopez talks about Berlin, whilst Navigator will return to her previously testing of engine components, fuel this week’s ‘Reader Essential Experience’ scheduled 2012 summer sailing program in consumption optimisation, and an advisory describes Kusadasi in Turkey. Europe following the conclusion of her service for overhauls and workshop services”. See www.50essentialexperiences.com. Caribbean sojourn.
cruise weekly Thursday 21st April 2011 page 3 JMAK= PLAY VIDEO :((./<
ZZZFUXLVHZHHNO\FRPDX EXPLORE THE KIMBERLEY Sunshine, sand and a spot of Europe river cruising Princess slashes Med cost IT WAS A CASE OF EAST PRINCESS CRUISES IS OPENING UP THE meets west on APT’s Mediterranean for cost consious cruisers by latest famil trip to offering a series of selected “best-ever” Europe, with a stopover European voyage fares. in Doha courtesy of Included in the deal is a 12-night cruise Qatar Airways. onboard Star Princess between Venice and During their whirlwind Rome, taking in Dubrovnik, Santorini, adventure the lucky Mykonos and Capri, from just $1,299pp/ts agents had the with departures on 29 Jul and 10 Aug. chance to cruise from In addition 12-night Ruby Princess Grand Budapest to Nuremberg Mediterranean cruises between Venice and onboard MS AmaBella. Barcelona departing 21 Jun, 15 and 27 Jul Treated to daily and 08 Aug are priced from $1,499pp/ts. champagne and smoked For details see www.princess.com. salmon breakfasts, the agents enjoyed sightseeing highlights such as an exclusive opera recital at the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest, as well P&O’s new brochure as a leisurely 35km bike ride between Durnstein and Melk. THIS WEEK P&O CRUISES RELEASED Whilst in Doha the group of lucky Aussie agents enjoyed a wild 4WD adventure through its new 2011-13 brochure to the sand dunes of Southern Qatar and almost to the Saudi Arabian border, as well as an travel agents. exploration of the Souq Waqif. The brochure features the Pictured above in front of AmaBella’s gangway is (from left) Joanne Bailey, Travel Design; cruise line’s 2012-13 program Andrew Cross, Wings Away; Ant Clark, Qatar Airways; Adrian Pettit, Bunnik Travel; Melinda which went on sale last month Wouda, APT BDM; Jenny Morris, Coopers featuring 126 departures Travel; Christine Cureton, Knox Travel; Mary between Jun 2012-Apr 2013. Myer, Trans Otway Geelong; Jake Hower, In addition, the brochure also features 24 Pan Australian Travel; Allison Kelly, Aurora short break cruises of less than seven days, Travel; Anne Bourke, Andrew Jones Travel; and some 2011 cruising options. Kirsten Ault, Flying Colours and Alicia Agents can order the brochure from 1st Wilkins, APT Reservations Team. Fleet Brochure Flow in Australia. Cunard entertainment QUEEN MARY 2’S SEVENTH TRANSATLANTIC SEASON, APT deals ending soon which commences on 24 Apr, will include a AGENTS ARE REMINDED THAT THE DEADLINE FOR host of new entertainment options, according APT’s round one deals is 30 Apr 2011. to Cunard. The 2012 deals were launched in mid Promising “a new dimension in February with APT’s season preview entertainment” the new experiences include brochure, and apply to the new Rhine- 3D films shown in QM2’s Illuminations Rhone itineraries as well as the 15-day stadium-style seating theatre, via a Magnificent Europe (Amsterdam to partnership with 3D projection technology Budapest) voyages, 18 and 21-day company, RealD. Magnificent Europe with Prague and Paris Films set to be shown include the opera departures, 25-day Eastern Bloc and Carmen, Pirates of the Caribbean: On FARES FROM Magnificent Europe cruises, 28-day Stranger Tides, and Harry Potter and the Switzerland and Magnificent Europe Deathly Hallows: Part 2. journeys, 31-day Italy and Magnificent Other new entertainment options include a Europe voyages and the 27-day Croatia and Professional Insights Songwriting Program hosted by former 1970s Squeeze band $3,930PER PERSON The Balkan Peninsula cruises. Deals include 2012 cruises at 2011 prices, member and now professional writer and free return airfares to Europe (including air producer, Chris Difford, along with four taxes) on a variety of suite categories or others professional songwriters. savings of up to $2,200 a couple for Apr-Sep The program will see guests collaborate departures on balcony suites. with musicians from QM2s performance According to APT marketing manager, company to create and record songs. Deb Fox, the early release and special offers Another new offering will see members of have been “well received by the market” the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art perform and have yielded “strong sales so far”. street theatre around the ship, as well as jazz For details visit www.aptgroup.travel. poetry and poetry set to classical music.
cruise weekly Thursday 21st April 2011 page 4 Follow us on: JMAK= Just one click away from :((./< keeping up to date with all the breaking news as it ZZZFUXLVHZHHNO\FRPDX comes to hand... No taxis in Victoria %URFKXUHRI ACCORDING TO LOCAL MEDIA REPORTAGE, TAXI WKHZHHN drivers in the port of Victoria, British Columbia, are in the process of a protest Gap Adventures Polar against taxi fees, and are refusing to pick up 3257+2/( Cruises brochure cruise passengers. features small ship The boycott comes at the beginning of the expeditions during summer season, with passengers onboard 2011. Victoria’s first seasonal visiting vessel Crystal Introduced to the Symphony, unable to score themselves a cab THAT’S A LOT OF AMMO! brochure is a 100% over the weekend. A multi-million dollar clean up of bear-antee, guarantee- The action has been taken by taxi drivers discarded World War II munitions by the ing travellers a polar over a $200 charge they have to pay to the US Army Corps of Engineers has recently bear sighting or every passenger on board Victorian Harbour Authority per season for concluded underneath the US cruise ship will be credited the value of their cruise to access to pick up pax. put towards a future MS Expedition Arctic terminal Pier 91 in Seattle. Local media have reported that the Throughout the process, a unit of cruise. disgruntled cabbies feel this fee is too high, Also new are added touring days to the expert divers discovered 11 unfired and have vowed to steer clear of cruise pax most popular cruises and an option to military munitions resting quietly under until they can sit down with the Harbour include pre and post expedition add-ons. the pier, alongside more than 200 For more information on the brochure or Authority to discuss lowering the levy. military munition related items. to book a cruise visit adventureworld.com. It is thought the explosives were River cruise collision discarded against regulations into the water between WWII and 1971 when the Celebrity signs OnboarD LAST WEEK, THE 160-PASSENGER RIVER CRUISE SHIP pier was used as a military supply depot. CELEBRITY CRUISES HAS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH Viktoria collided with the German cargo According to the US military there was software provider OnboarD which will see the vessel Bavaria 52 between the Slovakian relatively little risk of the old munitions latter’s IssuTrax program installed fleet-wide. cities of Bratislava and Samorin. exploding, however their removal means The IssuTrax software is a web-based According to reports the Viktoria suffered cruise vessels can now return to the pier tracking tool which streamlines the little damage during the incident, however her in time for the start of the US summer communication processes between passengers were evacuated to another vessel, season. departments on the reporting of technical whilst Bavaria 52 incurred major damage. “We are confident that the removal and pax issues that offers real-time An investigation is underway into the cause action conducted at Terminal 91 resulted collaboration and eliminates manual and of the accident, and whether Viktoria can in greatly reducing the potential safety paper processes. continue her run as scheduled. risk from remaining military munitions,” Agents enjoy a cruisey life out at sea said Col. Anthony O. Wright. At present the military are looking at a Sailing around Mexico plan to clear up the pier’s water, and to onboard the luxury cruise remove any final munitions that may be liner, Radiance of the hiding underneath a hard layer of Seas, may not be sediment. everyone’s typical workday, but for a group COMING TO A CRUISE NEAR YOU? of Aussie agents that’s In the quest for the most interesting, exactly how they spent newest, funnest, most engaging cruise four blissful days, as part line entertainment- having a dog that of the recent Travelscene can sing may be just the ticket. American Express Stay Prince a musical nine-month-old male Connected Educational. Samoyed has become a regular superstar The agents are in his hometown of Shenyang (which is pictured above about to board Radiance (back row from left) Angela Kaluzyn, Travelscene the capital of north-east China’s Liaoning at South West Travel, NSW; Peter Carson, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, NSW; Erin Province) after he was discovered Staunton, Phil Hoffman Travel, Glenelg; Marilyn Dickenson, Travelscene Cronulla; Katrina mimicking his owner’s ringtones. Roberts, Richmond Travel Centre, NSW; Vicki Carmichael, Travelscene Deniliquin, NSW Prince’s owner, a pet store operator, Ho and Leanne Bradshaw, Passport to the World, WA; and (front row from left) Cathy Xinyu, said his dog first began to show Pocaterra, Viatour Travel, NSW; Anna Marron Globenet, QLD; Allison Tickle, Travelscene an interest in music by waking Ho up America Express, NSW/ACT; Kristy Freeman, Travelscene Batemans Bay, NSW; Julie Stingel, with sonorous replications of his phone United Airlines, VIC and Jasmine Remy, Skelton Travel, QLD. alarm song. “He loves music with a high beat, and Cruise Weekly Australia/New Zealand Editorial Advertising & Promotions strong rhythm. For love songs, he usually PO Box 428, West Ryde NSW 1685 Editors: Advertising & Marketing Manager Ph: 1300 799 220 | Fax: 1300 799 221 Louise Goldsbury & Amanda Collins Lisa Maroun would neglect them,” Ho said. www.cruiseweekly.com.au [email protected] [email protected] Ho also said that a lot of customers now Cruise Weekly is a publication of Cruise Weekly Pty Ltd ABN 731 230 414 85. All content fully protected by copyright. Please obtain written permission from the frequent his shop just to listen to Prince. editor to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken in the preparation of Cruise Weekly no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Information is published in good faith to stimulate independent investigation of the matters canvassed. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Bruce Piper. cruise weekly Thursday 21st April 2011 page 5