Windstar’s newest cruise tours combine sailings with in-depth inland journeys that offer agents an opportunity to earn more commission.

Small ship cruises around Croatia continue to grow in popularity out of New Zealand and are increasingly used as options for people visiting the destination for a second or third time, according to niche wholesaler Croatia Times Travel.

A stalwart of New Zealand’s cruise industry says a lack of home porting in New Zealand presents a challenge to the industry here in coming years.

Viva Expeditions’ Arctic offering now includes the new Ultramarine vessel with its extensive range of activities.

Lüftner Cruises’ new cruise ship, AMADEUS Cara, is scheduled for delivery in Spring 2021.

Dream Cruises is ‘days away’ from releasing its 2021-2022 itineraries for this part of the world, agents who checked out Explorer Dream in her debut visit to New Zealand over the weekend were told.

Viking has launched ‘12 Cruises of Christmas’, a collection of river and ocean cruises, each with a special offer available for bookings made between 1 and 24 December 2019.

P&O Cruises will homeport the 2500-guest Pacific Explorer in Auckland in 2021, the largest ship the cruise line has deployed in the market.

Viking has launched a series of river cruising webinars in response to trade feedback for self-directed learning, making it easier for agents to learn about the line’s award winning fleet in their own time.

‘If your clients enjoyed Africa, they will love Antarctica.’

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and U River Cruises are offering savings on 2020 cruises.

Using food as the key to the culture of a destination is the concept behind Silversea’s S.A.L.T ‘ecosystem’ of sea and land taste that will debut on the new Silver Moon when it is launched in August next year.

PONANT is increasing the number of departures of its Kimberley expeditions during August and September 2021.

With Explorer Dream heading downunder for its inaugural Australasian season this month, Dream Cruises has taken the opportunity to showcase the kind of experience Kiwi cruisers can expect when she arrives.

Francis Travel Marketing added eight new cruise lines to its portfolio.

A successful series of PONANT Explorer events in Wellington and Auckland this week has seen on-the-spot bookings for agents.

The Baltic Sea provides agents with options for repeat cruise clients who may already have visited the Pacific, Caribbean, Mediterranean and other ‘first choices’ from the Australasian market, attendees at the pre Cruise360 product and destination showcase heard.

The travel behaviour and buying habits of Gen Zers and Millennials makes them ideal candidates for cruise – and for travel advisers to point them in that direction, says Ellen Bettridge, president and CEO of Uniworld Boutique River Collection and U River Cruises.

Three new itineraries have been designed by PONANT in a partnership with Relais & Châteaux.

A maiden voyage to the Cook Islands, an expanded Pitcairn itinerary and a first dedicated Society Islands cruise are part of Aranui Cruises’ new 2021 programme.

It was a highly spirited event at The Hunting Lodge in Auckland last week when Dream Cruises hosted more than 60 agents to a lunch that included dishes from the cruise line’s celebrity chef, Mark Best.

Dream Cruises is celebrating a stellar launch of Explorer Dream in this market. A recent flash sale sold out by 1pm on the day it was launched and more inventory had to be released to keep up with demand.

Heading downunder for its inaugural season later this year, including New Zealand itineraries over Christmas, Explorer Dream is confirmed for a second season here in 2020-21.

Explorer Dream will bring its Market to Table cooking experiences to Australia and New Zealand when it sails here this summer. Developed by the line’s executive chef, Mark Best, the interactive experiences are ‘based around giving guests insight into the culture of the ports we are in,’ says Best. ‘We tend to make the traditional dishes of the destination.’

The small group activity starts with an excursion to the local food market and includes lunch. The ingredients are prepared for lunch on-board the next day during a cooking class/demonstration. On Explorer Dream’s 27 October Sydney to Brisbane itinerary, the Market to Table excursion is to Mooloolaba’s Seafood Market. The 8 December Sydney to Auckland itinerary has the Market to Table excursion at markets in Gisborne, and in March 2020, an interactive cooking class is available in Darwin.

Princess Cruises newest ships – Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess – will offer Phantom Bridge, an escape room game combining digital and physical elements.

Carnival Cruise Line will operate its largest Bermuda season ever in 2019-2020, with more than 40 voyages, including eight week-long cruises departing from Baltimore and Charleston next year.

To celebrate 12 months of operation in the NZ market, Emerald Waterways has released an offer on its 15-day Splendours of Europe cruise, Amsterdam to Budapest.

Viva Expeditions has added a new cruise exploring the Panama Canal with savings of 20% off until cabins are sold out.

Bianca Bratton is the new business development executive for New Zealand for PONANT.

Francis Travel Marketing now represents Murray River Paddlesteamers in New Zealand.

Viking has launched its Wanderlust Cruise Sale, featuring offers on an extensive selection of Viking cruises including savings of up to $6000 per couple, complimentary stateroom upgrades and free flights.

Aurora Expeditions has savings of up to 20% on selected cruises and also a no single supplement offer on the departures.
The specials were highlighted when Aurora expeditions held a launch event for its 2020-21 programme at the Matisse Room, Seafarers Building in Auckland in early May

The changing demographic of cruise passengers, with a marked trend towards a younger market, was one of the pleasing aspects of the just released 2018 New Zealand Ocean Source Market Report for Debbie Summers, chair of the NZ Cruise Association.

Scenic has released its 2020 Europe River Cruising brochure featuring itineraries cruising the waterways of Europe and Russia.

Exotic Holidays has extended its product range deeper into Europe with the launch of a range of river cruises.

The continuing demand for diverse cruise product and the appetite of agents to be constantly updated and educated has been reflected by the strong response to CLIA LIVE in Auckland.

A new women-only hosted tour to Antarctica and Argentina is available for clients looking to travel with like minded female adventurers.

World Journeys has an offer on select 2019 Belmond Road to Mandalay cruises when booked and deposited by 30 April 2019.

UnCruise adventures is offering a saving of up to US$1200 per couple, per week on select Alaska journeys and departures booked by 19 April, 2019.

U has launched two new themed cruises in Germany this summer aboard The A.

Seabourn Encore was in Auckland over the weekend and a handful of agents took the opportunity to take clients on board.

Around 20 agents, some with clients, were among the first of the trade to see Caledonian Sky’s refurbishment when the expedition ship berthed in Auckland yesterday.

Special rates for Explorer Dream’s seven-night cruises from Sydney and Auckland for the 2019-20 season start from $972 per person twin share.

Ecruising will operate a 28-night Japan, Alaska and San Francisco journey in May 2019.

Princess Cruises has launched its Local Connections programme in Australia to coincide with the start of the cruise line’s 2018/19 summer cruise season. A global initiative, the Australian-based programme will see the development of up to 20 new shore excursions in six ports – Broome, Perth, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Speaking at the 2018 Carnival Australia Partnership Summit aboard Majestic Princess in Australia, Princess Cruises’ chief commercial officer, Deanna Austin says the line was pioneering partnerships with regional experts in response to demand for meaningful and authentic tourism

A high-end boutique ocean cruising business – with a new 44-metre luxury yacht – has been placed on the market for sale.

Releasing cruise itineraries to the New Zealand and Australian markets four years in advance is one way Regent Seven Seas Cruises is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the region.

Norwegian Cruise Line marked its third anniversary in New Zealand (and showed off its Auckland premises) with a trade function late last week.

• House of Travel’s Jeff Leckey,... House of Travel’s Jeff Leckey,...
• Dennis Payne, House of Travel... Dennis Payne, House of Travel...
• John Willson, FTG; Trish Ryder,... John Willson, FTG; Trish Ryder,...
• Julia Hindman, Flight Centre; Mark... Julia Hindman, Flight Centre; Mark...
• Mihai Olaerio, food and beverage... Mihai Olaerio, food and beverage...
• Ashleigh Teixeira and Sue Grigg,... Ashleigh Teixeira and Sue Grigg,...
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Royal Caribbean Line’s 11th New Zealand season started off in style this week when a group of 30 agents plus was hosted on Celebrity Solstice.

World Journeys has extended its special offers on select 2019 Antarctic cruises with Quark Expeditions to 31 October 2018.

• Let the ship inspection begin…Margaret... Let the ship inspection begin…Margaret...
• Bubbles to mark the NZ... Bubbles to mark the NZ...
• Cherryl Browne, Cruise World; Jill... Cherryl Browne, Cruise World; Jill...
• Hayley Ngameyia, Jacqueline Kennedy, both... Hayley Ngameyia, Jacqueline Kennedy, both...
• Sean Berenson, Mirella Merlo, both... Sean Berenson, Mirella Merlo, both...
• Mark Smith, Let’s Cruise; Julia... Mark Smith, Let’s Cruise; Julia...
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Conditions are ripe for continued strong growth in cruising out of the New Zealand market, says Stuart Allison, Princess Cruises’ senior vice president, Asia Pacific.

Emerald Waterways is celebrating five years with the release of a range of birthday offers exclusive to the New Zealand market.

House of Travel says it is committed to getting more Kiwis ‘on-board’ with cruising, especially those who have not cruised before.