Cruising Updates
AmaWaterways to work with Smithsonian Journeys
AmaWaterways has announced an alliance with Smithsonian Journeys, the travel programme of the Smithsonian Institution.
Agents step aboard HANSEATIC inspiration
Viva Expeditions hosted a ship inspection for Canterbury travel agents recently, aboard the luxury expedition vessel HANSEATIC inspiration.
Wine, Colombia, Egypt: Ama highlights opportunities
Partnering with a winemaker and offering special themed river cruises through Europe is a way to not only establish a new revenue stream, but also to open up an annual opportunity, says Gary Murphy, co-owner of Ama Waterways.
Major refurbs for two HX Expeditions ships
HX Expeditions has announced significant refurbishments for two of its most popular smaller ships, MS Fram and MS Spitsbergen.
Wanderlust Travel Experts’ new cruise booking website
Wanderlust Travel Experts has launched a dedicated cruise booking engine on its website. The platform, released this week, provides customers with seamless online access to search and book from over 40,000 cruise offers from the world’s most popular cruise lines.
Regent set for busy months in NZ market
The New Zealand travel trade can expect plenty of activity from Regent Seven Seas Cruises over the next few months, says Lisa Pile, the brand’s vice president and general manager Australia and New Zealand.
Uniworld reveals 2026 season details
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has released details of its 2026 season, including the debut of S.S. Emilie, a new build addition to the fleet, inspired by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt.
Viking releases 2025-2027 river brochure
Viking has released its 2025-2027 River Brochure featuring journeys that explore the rivers of Europe, Egypt, Southeast Asia and the USA.
New cruise on French Riviera with PONANT
PONANT Explorations has a new itinerary along the Côte d’Azur aboard the company’s three-master, Le Ponant. From May 2026, the Relais & Châteaux labelled yacht will be offering the new itinerary to 32 guests.
Evolving expedition scene makes understanding essential
As expedition cruising continues to diversify and evolve, the importance of understanding what you are offering to a client – and having access to expert advice when necessary – is more important than ever, according to Aaron Russ, general manager of Wild Earth Travel.
A-ROSA bookings strong for 2025
A-ROSA is reporting a strong start to the 2025 season in advance of its official beginning on the rivers.
Rise in solo travel, luxury expedition and close to home all evident in cruise
The rise of solo travel, a documented trend in cruise, was illustrated first hand recently to Nyssa Erskine, marketing, communications and sales specialist at Wild Earth Travel.
PONANT’s 2026-27 Arctic update
PONANT’s Le Commandant Charcot will return to the Arctic for the 2026-2027 winter season.
Coral Expeditions builds 2026 Tasmania programme
Coral Expeditions has released several new cruises for 2026 aboard Coral Discoverer around Tasmania’s coast.
New Pandaw ship for Mekong
Pandaw’s suites-only ship is set to be cruising the Mekong from 1 November this year.
Uniworld’s new holiday itinerary in France
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has added a new Magical Parisian Holiday itinerary along the Seine in its Holiday Collection for the 2025 season.
Celebrity to move into river cruising
Celebrity Cruises is launching Celebrity River Cruises, a premium river cruise product that will begin taking bookings this year.
Growth, trade relationships top of mind for Oceania
The key word for Oceania Cruises right now is ‘growth’, says the line’s vice president international sales, Jason Worth.
New Grand Journeys, Great Lakes itineraries
Viking has released its 2025-2027 Antarctica, The Arctic & Grand Journeys Expeditions brochure featuring expedition voyages across Antarctica, the Arctic and the Great Lakes of North America, sailing between March to October annually.
CroisiEurope: 30 years on Rhône, 25 in Venice
CroisiEurope is celebrating 30 years on the Rhône and 25 years in Venice with anniversary offers.
Nine ships to debut in CLIA showcase
Nine new cruise ships of 2025 will be showcased in an online education series for Australasian travel agents hosted next month by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
The 2025 Ocean Debut Virtual Showcase will run from Monday 3 February to Friday 7 February 2025, with daily live online sessions presented by nine CLIA cruise lines. Each will outline facts and features of their ships, including dining options, entertainment, accommodation styles, public spaces, and what type of experience guests can expect.
The showcase is available exclusively to CLIA member agents.
The ships are: MSC Cruises – MSC World America, Windstar – Star Seeker, Norwegian Cruise Line – Norwegian Aqua, Aurora Expeditions – Douglas Mawson, Disney Cruise Line – Disney Adventure, Oceania Cruises – Allura, Princess Cruises – Star Princess, Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Xcel, Royal Caribbean – Star of the Seas.
Participants will earn CLIA points and have a chance to win prize packs by tuning in live, collecting a codeword and completing a quiz.
cruising.org.au/CLIA-Events/2025-Ocean-Debut-Virtual-Showcase
Kimberley 2026 released by PONANT
PONANT has officially launched its 2026 Kimberley season. From May to September 2026, 16 departures aboard luxury small expedition vessels Le Soléal or Le Jacques Cartier, have up to 30% savings off the brochure fare with the PONANT bonus for those who book early.
Oceania launches more for 2026
Oceania Cruises has launched the second wave of its 2026 Collection of Voyages.
MSC’s new World Cruise segment
MSC Cruises has released new Melbourne to Europe segment itineraries on its 2025 World Cruise.
Report shows value (and challenges) of NZ cruise sector
Government taxes and costs applied by ‘gate-keepers’ like ports and councils on the cruise sector look set to reduce the industry’s total contribution to the economy by about $250 million this summer compared with the year before.
Sea Cloud Spirit to homeport in Venice
Sea Cloud Spirit, the flagship and largest vessel of Sea Cloud Cruises, will debut Venice as its homeport in the European summer of 2025.
New e-brochure, incentive for NZ cruises
Wild Earth Travel has a new e-brochure of small ship cruising itineraries through New Zealand and the Subantarctic Islands.
CLIA wins top training award at Australia's NTIAs
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has been named Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Institution at Australia’s National Travel Industry Awards (NTIAs).
Special agent rates on Albatros northern journeys
Albatros Expeditions is offering 70% off two voyages for 2025 for travel professionals. The journeys are The Wild West Coast of Europe in April 2025, as well as an Arctic Odyssey the following month.
New voyages for Heritage Expeditions in 2025-26
Heritage Expeditions has released its Authentic Small Ship Expedition Cruising 2025-2026 brochure featuring two new voyages to Japan and a cruise industry first in the Philippines, alongside its more familiar adventure cruises.
New Egypt ship joins Viking fleet
Viking has taken delivery of the company’s newest ship for the Nile River, the 82-guest Viking Sobek, which will sail the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
‘Perfect for Kiwis’ – Agents experience Paul Gauguin
Luxury small ship itineraries in French Polynesia and the Pacific give New Zealand travel agents an ideal opportunity to upgrade couples into groups, says Alan Wilcock, business development manager New Zealand for PONANT and Paul Gauguin Cruises.
PONANT releases 2025 Europe Collection
PONANT has released its 2025 Europe Collection and has a range of special offers tailored for New Zealanders and Australians.
Swan Hellenic in Virtuoso portfolio
Swan Hellenic has been accepted into Virtuoso’s portfolio of luxury travel partners, comprising over 2,300 preferred suppliers in 100 countries.
NZ GSA for Atlas Ocean Voyages
Small ship cruising specialist, Cruise World, has been appointed as the exclusive New Zealand representative for growing, luxury expedition line, Atlas Ocean Voyages.
Trade confidence big part of Regent’s NZ success as Kiwis embrace luxury cruise
More new to brand cruise, a trend towards longer cruises and a noticeably younger demographic are all signs that New Zealand’s luxury cruise market is back, says Lisa Pile, vice president sales and general manager Asia Pacific at Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Cruise panel: Inter-gen groups still on-board
The key trends of inter-generational travel and staying close to home continue to be drivers in the cruise industry, according to speakers at yesterday’s Skal Auckland lunch at Grand Millennium Hotel.
Hurtigruten's sustainable approach
When it comes to sustainability and authenticity in the cruise industry the focus needs to be on making continuous progress rather than an unobtainable goal of perfection says Hurtigruten’s Asia Pacific managing director Damian Perry.
CroisiEurope canals famil
Kaye Williamson from CroisiEurope GSA, Innovative Travel, recently hosted a CroisiEurope boutique barge famil, ex Strasbourg with agents and a media representative.
Croatia private yacht savings
Sail Croatia has launched savings on a number of luxury yacht options in the Adriatic.
NCL's major new build order
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has unveiled the most comprehensive new build order in its history – a total of eight vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three brands.
River cruising for incentives
Incentive travel organisers are being encouraged to consider a European cruise for a future event.
MSC: Fresh team, new ships
MSC Cruises is on a mission to update the perception of the New Zealand travel trade towards the line, says managing director Australia and New Zealand Lisa Teiotu.
Oceania anticipates NZ growth
Oceania Cruises is expecting a few Kiwi bookings on its latest world cruise, which goes on sale 14 March, adding to the overall positivity the line is seeing from the market and particularly the trade here.
Kiwis to fore at awards
The New Zealand trade shone brightly at the 21st annual Cruise Industry Awards in Sydney on Saturday night, with House of Travel setting the pace early and the event ending with the induction of ISS-McKay New Zealand managing director Craig Harris, into the CLIA Hall of Fame.
Agents giving precedence to ‘high ticket’ clients, works well for cruise, says NCL exec
The increasing inclination of travel agents to prioritise value clients looking for experiences with a high ticket price is an advantageous trend when it comes to selling cruise, says Ben Angell, vice-president and managing director Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) APAC.
Early interest in Viking’s Explorer Sessions at all time high – events kick off soon
Viking’s Explorer Sessions for agents and their clients are already looking like attracting a bumper audience, spread over 31 events from 28 February to 4 July.
Aurora's new trade Approach
Aurora Expeditions has partnered with Approach Guides, in a move to provide greater marketing support for its travel trade partners globally.
Viking's new China options
Viking is introducing three new itineraries to China in 2024.
They range from 10 to 20 days and explore cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Each itinerary also includes a domestic sailing off China’s coast that highlights rarely-seen destinations and ports to which only Viking has access.
HX: Polar flight special
HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) is offering specials on all-inclusive itineraries with flights to Antarctica, Iceland and Greenland when booked by 31 March 2024 for departures in the 2024-2025 season.
Aurora's e-book, savings
Expedition travel company, Aurora Expeditions is encouraging travellers to ‘go wild with their bucket lists’in 2024, releasing its Best Small-Ship Experiences bucket list and e-book.
Charter success for Viva
Viva Expeditions is hailing the success of last year’s VIP Antarctica cruise, the company’s first full charter to the continent.
Plenty of potential yet in expedition cruising for 2024 and beyond, says Russ
Travel agents who are really embracing expedition cruising can expect to be increasingly successful over the next year and beyond, says Aaron Russ, commercial director and expedition leader with Heritage Expeditions.
Strong trade engagement leads to growing sales in NZ for Viking
Working diligently with the New Zealand travel trade is paying strong and tangible dividends for Viking, says commercial manager New Zealand Steve Parker.
More...
Princess Cruises update
Travel agents will receive a teaser about Princess Cruises’ 2026 World Cruise on 23 October, with full details set to be released 15 November and the cruise open for sales on
29 November.
Delve deep for cruise rewards
The deeper agents delve for cruising options that don’t necessarily fit a traditional mould, the more opportunities they will find to get clients beyond the ordinary – and earn attractive commission in doing so, a leading cruise wholesaler is reminding the trade.
Aranui Cruises special
The French Polynesian cruise line Aranui Cruises is offering 50% off the second guest in a twin share room and has removed the single supplement on its Pitcairn and Austral Islands voyages in 2024.
Demand for Croatia cruising
Croatia has been one of the rising stars of Europe since the world reopened, according to World Journeys.
The niche wholesaler reports high demand in particular for cruising the Adriatic coast between Split and Dubrovnik.
