Cruising Updates
Heritage Expeditions launches new Pacific itinerary from Fiji
Heritage Expeditions has released a new island-hopping adventure through the South Pacific, exploring Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, and the remote islands of Wallis and Futuna.
Lux lines welcome positive vibes from NZ
New Zealand can expect considerable boosts in deployment from Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises over the next few years, executives with the lines said recently.
Going deep – Smithsonian Journeys in spotlight
The desire many clients have to go deeper into destinations and hear more from experts in different fields was highlighted during a joint PONANT Explorations and AmaWaterways trade event at Auckland Art Gallery on Wednesday evening.
It’s the experience not the product – for younger gens too, says cruise rising star
Recognised rising star in the cruise industry, Flynn Cox notes a question he particularly likes being asked. ‘As a younger (travel) advisor, I’ve had moments where my age was noticed before my experience.
Seabourn looks to Alaska 2027
Seabourn’s 2026 Alaska season finished last week and the luxury line is looking ahead to summer 2027, when Seabourn Encore will return to explore Alaska and British Columbia from May to September.
Unknown Japan and South Korea
As interest grows in Japan’s lesser visited areas, World Journeys has added an Unknown Japan & South Korea itinerary to their product range.
Exploring the Douro River with Viking
Viking focuses on the Douro’s beauty and history on its 10-day Portugal’s River of Gold journey from Lisbon to Porto.
Clients can save with Viking’s Flights On Us offer, receiving included economy airfares of up to A$2,800 per person on river, ocean and expedition voyages departing between 2027 and 2029.
HX discounts on Antarctica
HX Expeditions continues to celebrate its 130th year with new Antarctica offers starting at A$14,855 per person.
In addition to this, HX is offering 5% extra off cabins and 10% extra off suites.
North Pole savings, agent incentive
Wild Earth Travel has announced exclusive savings of up to 15% on PONANT’s new voyage to the Geographic North Pole and the East Coast of Greenland.
Agents will also receive a $200 gift card for each booking they make.
Cruise leader has warning for Australia
A thriving global cruise industry presents enormous opportunities for Australian communities, but the country’s success cannot be guaranteed without a clear focus on maintaining competitiveness as a destination, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) global president and CEO Bud Darr has warned.
Cruise brands tempt with Tahiti
Sister brands Paul Gauguin Cruises and PONANT Explorations have launched Tempting Tahiti, a limited-time offer spanning their French Polynesia voyages in 2026 and 2027.
Coral gets more solo friendly
Coral Expeditions has expanded its solo traveller programme. The move responds to growing demand from clients choosing to travel independently in search of tailored, meaningful experiences that align with personal interests. The global solo travel market is projected to grow 14.3% annually through to 2030, with the Asia-Pacific region expected to grow even faster at 16.1% a year.
Princess Cruises gives teaser on New Zealand before 2028-29 ANZ release
The announcement that Princess Cruises will double its amount of New Zealand port calls in 2028-29 was a ‘titbit’ in the lead-up to the line’s release of its full plans for the season mid-October, says vice-president Asia Pacific Matt Rutherford.
Agents can win a Norwegian Coast cruise
Wild Earth Travel has partnered with Hurtigruten to offer New Zealand travel advisors a chance to win a fully paid cabin aboard the Norwegian Coastal Express.
More Iberian Odyssey departures
Viking has added 12 new departures of its 17-day Iberian Odyssey voyage, offering advisors additional opportunities to book one of the company’s most distinctive river and ocean combination itineraries for travel between Q4 2027 and Q3 2028.
MSC gives more alternatives to ME
MSC Cruises has announced updates for the Northern Hemisphere Winter 2027-2028 season, particularly around the Western Mediterranean and South Caribbean.
Viking opens 2028-2029 ocean bookings
Viking’s 2028-2029 ocean voyages are now open for booking, featuring more than 700 new departure dates on 80 voyages, spanning 301 ports across 84 countries and six continents.
NCL releases preview of Norwegian Aura
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), has unveiled new wellness and dining experiences coming aboard Norwegian Aura – its newest and largest ship, debuting in May 2027.
The Silk Road – not just the Stans
While many think of the Stan countries when talking about the Silk Road, World Journeys is reminding agents that approximately half of the overland Silk Road actually lies within China.
Morocco, big Pacific season among NCL’s 2028 highlights
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has opened bookings for its 2028 season, featuring more than 450 voyages across 20 ships in the line’s global deployment.
Tauck to extend river cruising fleet
Tauck’s ms Harmonie, a sister ship to ms Lumiere, will join the company’s riverboat fleet in France in 2028.
Seabourn releases Caribbean season
Seabourn has opened bookings for its winter 2028-2029 Caribbean season.
With sailings aboard Seabourn Ovation and Seabourn Quest between 28 December 2028 and 29 March 2029, the season features 10 itineraries ranging from seven to 12 days, with access to yacht harbours and small ports that larger ships cannot reach.
Nat Geo-Lindblad’s 2028-29 details
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has announced its 2028-29 deployment with new and expanded itineraries across Antarctica, the Arctic, Alaska, Europe and the South Pacific.
Science based GBR expedition
Coral Expeditions has announced a new 11-night expedition voyage, Science and Conservation on the Great Barrier Reef, letting travellers explore the world’s largest and most ecologically diverse coral reef system through science, conservation and expert-led discovery.
NZ cruise progress praised – don’t let it slip, consistency needed, say event speakers
New Zealand is back on track when it comes to infrastructure plans and providing certainty to cruise lines considering deployment, delegates at the New Zealand Cruise Conference heard yesterday.
HOT’s Leckey welcomes cruise lines’ positive vibes
Jeff Leckey, GM Cruise Australasia for House of Travel, says he was feeling ‘buoyed’ by the content of the New Zealand Cruise Conference yesterday.
New Zealand Cruise: 'We're still not where we need to be'
Despite some progress being made over the past 12 months, this country remains in a fight to win back cruise deployment in an intensely competitive global market, the New Zealand Cruise Association Conference has heard this morning.
Old Harbor new Alaskan port for HX
HX Expeditions has become the first commercial cruise line to visit Old Harbor, a remote Alutiiq community on Kodiak Island.
Aurora adds Cultural Expeditions
Aurora Expeditions has opened its Northern Hemisphere 2028 season for bookings with 29 expedition departures across 20 countries and territories.
‘Flights on Us’ promo
Viking has launched Flights on Us, a new, limited time promotion giving New Zealand travellers included economy airfares of up to A$2,800 per person on selected river, ocean and expedition voyages departing between 2027 and 2029.
NCL releases Great Tides Waterpark images
Norwegian Cruise Line has just unveiled the first look at Great Tides Waterpark, a six-acre attraction opening on its private island, Great Stirrup Cay, in the Bahamas this September.
HX launches chance to win Antarctic famil
HX Expeditions has launched Chart Your Course to Antarctica, a new trade incentive that rewards travel agents for selling Antarctica voyages, with the chance to earn a place on an exclusive Antarctica famil.
Viking fleet continues to grow
Viking has taken delivery of Viking Dagur, the company’s newest Viking Longship. Viking Dagur was built at Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Germany. The 190-guest vessel joins the company’s growing fleet of sister ships and will sail Viking’s itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.
NCL’s refresh for Jade and Gem
Norwegian Cruise Line has released images showing a major refresh of Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem, introducing some of the brand’s most popular guest experiences ahead of their upcoming Alaska, Europe and Asia seasons.
Heritage Adventurer to Lautoka, Fiji
Wild Earth Travel has launched a five-day ocean voyage aboard Heritage Adventurer sailing from Auckland to Lautoka from 10 to 14 March 2027.
Bonus on South America cruises
Cunard has a limited-time incentive for New Zealand travel agents, offering an additional 5% commission on six select Queen Anne voyages to South America departing in 2027 when booked by 30 September 2026.
Thirty-five cruises to mark 35 years
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a collection of 35th Anniversary Sailings spanning six ships, including Seven Seas Prestige debuting in 2027.
Uniworld to debut three new ships for 2028
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will debut three new ships in 2028: the SS Helen, SS Clara, and Mekong Mystique, bringing the brand to a total of 22 ships.
SeaTrek Sailing Adventures
World Journeys is recommending SeaTrek Sailing Adventures for clients seeking a fresh experience of the Indonesian archipelago.
Avalon’s fly free offers
Avalon Waterways has unveiled a new collection of fly free offers for Kiwi travellers. Guests can have return international airfares included, plus savings of up to $1,600 per couple, on select European river cruises when they book by 30 October 2026.
Viking’s Oberammergau 2030 river voyages
Viking has two new river voyages for 2030 that will offer guests the opportunity to experience the world-renowned Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, which has been performed every 10 years for nearly 400 years.
New touches on Celebrity Reflection
Celebrity Cruises has unveiled the newly modernised Celebrity Reflection, which will sail the Caribbean from March 2027.
Expedition cruising advances in inter-gen trend as families seek deeper purpose in travel
Inter-generational groups are getting onboard expedition cruises in growing numbers, a trend that presents the travel trade in New Zealand with big opportunities, says Elsa McLean, head of sales Australia and New Zealand for Adventure World.
Uniworld’s biggest-yet cruise, air promotion
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has launched a new Cruise & Air promotion, offering guests up to $3,000 per person in air credit on every 2026 and 2027 cruise booking made between 1 July and 31 August 2026.
Lecturer Shackleton back with PONANT
PONANT Explorations has announced the return of polar historian and lecturer Jonathan Shackleton, cousin of legendary Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, as guest lecturer aboard L’Austral in February 2027.
Discounts on Greenland with HX
HX is highlighting discounts on two Greenland itineraries. They are Discovering Greenland – From Reykjavík to Nuuk (14 days), priced from A$13,122; and Grand Greenland – The Icy Giants of Disko Bay (13 days), priced from A $15,194.
Scenic Ikon debut, expanded land in 2028-29
Scenic Group has unveiled its new 2028 and 2029 Europe, Mediterranean and Americas Discovery Yacht collection, led by Scenic Ikon’s inaugural season and an expanded range of land journeys.
HX Expeditions launches Alaska course
HX Expeditions the launched the HX + UTAS Alaska Course, the first in a new series of Arctic educational courses developed with longstanding educational partner the University of Tasmania (UTAS).
PONANT promotes Asia highlights 2026 to 2028
PONANT Explorations is highlighting voyages across Asia offering access to some of the region’s most remote and culturally rich destinations.
Savings, onboard credit with Aranui Cruises
Aranui Cruises is offering an onboard credit and 20% off cruises in 2026 and 2027 as the Tahitian cargo cruise line encourages guests to go beyond Tahiti and see more of French Polynesia.
Viking’s new Morocco extension
Viking has launched a new five-night pre-cruise extension in Morocco, available on its 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids river journey.
Avalon’s 2027 advisor-only cruise
Avalon Waterways will have New Zealand and Australian travel advisors aboard a dedicated full ship charter on the Danube in March 2027, following strong commercial results from its inaugural sailing earlier this year.
Ama’s new ship reveal
AmaWaterways has unveiled the first details and renderings of AmaRudi, its second double-width river ship scheduled to debut on the Danube River early 2027.
Virgin Voyages appoints head of sales ANZ
Virgin Voyages has appointed David Clark as head of sales in the New Zealand and Australian markets.
More...
Viking launches new Japan cruise
Viking has launched the 15-day Japan Discovery, a new ocean itinerary offering a roundtrip sailing from Tokyo.
Cox & Kings relaunch in New Zealand a key part of AKTG’s update to travel trade
The relaunch of Cox & Kings in the New Zealand market, major expansion of DMCs (destination management companies) and lodges in the Abercrombie & Kent portfolio, plus a growing Crystal Cruises fleet were all highlighted at a well-attended function in Auckland this week.
Viking’s new options on European rivers
Viking has new European river voyage experiences open for booking. Highlights include scenic Zeppelin airship excursions in Germany, offering guests on select Rhine River itineraries aerial views of Cologne and the Ruhr Valley, along with new culinary and cultural shore excursions, small group shore excursions and expanded options for land extensions across Europe.
UnCruise Alaska savings with World Journeys
World Journeys is promoting savings on small ship Alaskan cruises of up to US$250 person on select 2026 departures when booked by 31 August 2026; and savings of 10% on select 2027 departures when booked by 30 June 2026.
