Heritage Expeditions has added the islands of Japan to its 2023 schedule, announcing three new voyages aboard expedition flagship Heritage Adventurer.

Commercial director and expedition leader, Aaron Russ says Japan’s combination of history, culture and wilderness and wildlife make it ideal for expedition cruising.

Viking’s commercial manager New Zealand, Steve Parker says his main objective is to continue to help (where he can) agents struggling to cope with the amount of business and reduced resources.

‘I have been in the retail environment and I know how busy they are. If I can help by talking to their clients directly, even in the evening at a convenient time, I am happy to call them and help get them across the line for the agent.’

Viking will again partner with Universal Pictures on the release of Downton Abbey: A New Era, the next instalment in the Downton Abbey franchise, in cinemas from 28 April 2022 in Australia and New Zealand.

PONANT has released a new 13-night Fly and Cruise package for its upcoming 2022 Chairman’s Cruise on board Le Paul Gauguin, in French Polynesia including Tahiti, the Society Islands and the Tuamotus. 

The voyage will be hosted by Australian businesswoman Sarina Bratton AM, Asia Pacific chairman of PONANT and Paul Gauguin Cruises.

Steve Parker, NZ commercial manager with Viking, encourages agents to book clients sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment, as eager travellers are securing their future travel plans.

‘Many of our most popular cruises for 2022 have already sold out and 2023 departures are getting close to capacity. As consumer confidence continues to improve in New Zealand, a lot of travellers are looking ahead to secure their long-awaited trips. If agents have clients who want to travel on specific dates, in a desired stateroom category, now is the best time to book,’ he says.

Heritage Expeditions and Wild Earth Travel owner/director Aaron Russ and BDM Sarah Porter welcomed over 40 agents and brokers onboard Heritage Explorer for an inspection, followed by a long overdue catch up with canapes and bubbles.

The 30m expedition yacht is currently in the middle of a successful summer season exploring islands between Auckland and the Bay of Islands. The 18 passenger vessel is equipped with zodiacs and kayaks.

Viking’s latest annual survey of the New Zealand and Australian travel trade has confirmed growing demand for future cruising as travellers are eager to lock in their next cruise.

When asked about an increase in the level of enquiry, 24% of respondents stated they had received ‘more than normal’ the number of requests, while more than half reported a ‘small amount’ in the increase of enquiries.

Viking’s newest ocean ship – the 930-guest Viking Neptune – has been ‘floated out’, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.

Set to debut in November 2022, Viking Neptune will spend her maiden season sailing in the Mediterranean before embarking on the 2023-2024 Viking World Cruise, a journey from Fort Lauderdale to London that spans 138 days, 28 countries and 57 ports, with overnight stays in 11 cities.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL’s) Norwegian Viva, the next ship in its new Prima Class will begin sailing Mediterranean itineraries in June 2023, home-porting in key Southern European port cities including Lisbon, Portugal; Venice (Trieste) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Athens (Piraeus), Greece.

She will then sail the Southern Caribbean for her 2023-2024 northern hemisphere winter season offering getaways from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), has opened for sale the most itineraries at once in its history, unveiling sailings from 35 departure ports – including new NCL homeports in Haifa, Israel and La Romana, Dominican Republic.

The announcement includes Australia and New Zealand cruises, as well as cruises within Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Alaska and the Caribbean through to October 2024, while Hawai’i inter-island seven-day voyages are now open up to December 2025.

Viking has given its trade loyalty programme Rewards by Viking an extensive upgrade. New features further reward trade partners, increased engagement and enhance the overall user experience.

Rewards by Viking allows travel agents to earn reward points for booking Viking’s ocean, river and expedition cruises. These can be redeemed in the online Rewards by Viking store on a range of brand-name items – from electronics and sporting goods to beauty products and gift vouchers.

With the start of Le Commandant Charcot’s inaugural season, PONANT is the first operator to resume luxury expeditions to the White Continent.

PONANT’s 2021-22 season comprises 14 different itineraries and 33 sailings scheduled from now to March 2022. In addition to Le Commandant Charcot, the company’s four sister ships Le Lyrial, L’Austral, Le Boréal and Le Soléal will also be sailing south.

The number of passengers who have sailed worldwide since ocean cruise operations resumed last year has now passed three million people, while governments in Australia and New Zealand are still yet to agree on plans for a local revival.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) managing director Australasia Joel Katz notes cruising has resumed in 52 countries worldwide and that Australasia remains one of the only major cruise regions where governments had not progressed plans for resumption.

‘Worldwide, more than 70% of CLIA cruise line ocean-going ships are back in operation and we expect that figure to reach 80% in December,’ Katz says. ‘This shows the effectiveness of the cruise industry’s new health protocols introduced in response to the global pandemic.

The New Zealand Cruise Association says its ‘most realistic estimate’ is that the industry here will not crank up until the last quarter of 2022.

Chief executive officer Kevin O’Sullivan says this is based on the considerable time it will taker to work with the government through acceptable procedures and protocols which are in place successfully in other countries but still have to be agreed by our officials.

‘These talks have not yet begun but could start once New Zealand achieves vaccination rates above 90%.’

Though cruise in New Zealand faces tough challenges in the short term, at least the industry can be sure there will be demand to get back on ships when the sector can ramp up operations here again.

Benjamin Dale, New Zealand account manager with destination management company (DMC) Akorn, says a real worry had been whether or not people are still wanting to cruise.

‘The answer to that has been a resounding yes. Cruise is selling extremely well (around the world) so demand is not a worry any more.’

The New Zealand Cruise Association has expressed its frustration yet again at the government’s failure to even indicate a timeline for a restart in this region. 

The association says that it is ‘most likely not until next year’, in its latest newsletter.

‘This month would ordinarily (whatever that means now) see the beginning of the New Zealand cruise season. However, port visits have reduced by 88%, with more to come.  It’s important to understand that cruise lines want to operate here but are unable to do so because of the New Zealand government prohibition on ships entering our maritime border.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has unveiled its upcoming multifaceted entertainment and onboard experiences on Norwegian Prima.

The vessel, the first of six ships within NCL’s all-new Prima Class, debuted with record-breaking sales  when it was announced in May this year.

The Tony Award®-nominated musical ‘Summer: The Donna Summer Musical’ is its interactive headlining act.

French Polynesia is repositioning its cruise industry in favour of ships with small and medium capacity.

A release from Tahiti Tourisme says the destination will ‘reposition around four axis’, applicable from 1 January 2022.

Firstly it will favour year-round turnaround ships based in French Polynesia, of small and medium capacities (700 passengers).

PONANT has released a new brochure for Australia and New Zealand, focused on Luxury Expeditions for 2022 and 2023, offering destinations from the polar cap to the outback.

The brochure highlights local markets’ most in demand itineraries including Australia’s Kimberley, East Coast and Tasmania, as well as New Zealand’s Sub Antarctic Islands, Papua New Guinea and Melanesia.

Scenic has released details of recent ship enhancements, including a new entertainment partnership on Scenic Eclipse. Over the past 12 months, Scenic has refined a number of its culinary experiences and venues.

The Yacht Club’s dining area has been extended and a food island has been installed. House-made gelato will be served, and new large sofas will replace the traditional tables and chairs. Guests can also relax in new wicker swinging egg chairs.

The new Night Market @ Kokos is based on night markets and street food from around Asia, India and the Middle East. Sushi @ Koko’s has also expanded to include more window seating.

A large number of consumers, even avid cruisers, in New Zealand and Australia are not aware of health and safety measures being implemented by cruise lines, a Cruise Critic survey shows.

Presenting the results at the CLIA Cruise Forum webinars last week, Cruise Critic’s Colleen McDaniel said the gap in client’s knowledge presented obvious opportunities for the trade.

The survey asked respondents how they would rate the cruise industry in successfully implementing measures to keep guests and destination residents from contracting and spreading Covid-19.

Travel advisors should plan to prioritise loyal customers when people are able to travel again, a presenter at the CLIA Cruise Forum webinars said last week.

Michael Londregan, senior vice-president global operations of Virtuoso, was one of many speakers who noted that overseas experience indicated a rush to travel advisors when borders opened. Ironically this could cause problems considering the huge reduction in staff that travel businesses now have.

Viking’s commercial manager New Zealand, Steve Parker, says the company’s newest ocean ship – the 930-guest Viking Mars will be heading this way from Europe in October 2022.

‘We have released a selection of cruises which if combined will give clients an opportunity to cruise all the way from Barcelona to Auckland. Agents can book one cruise or all six cruises to make a 92-day voyage of a lifetime,’ he says.

‘Several New Zealand agents have made bookings already and it is recommended to book early so you can secure the same cabin on each sailing. One agent booked three couples who wanted to travel together so there are definitely opportunities out there.’

Oceania Cruises has introduced 16 new Europe and Tahiti voyages for early 2022 aboard Regatta and Nautica.

When Nautica debuts on 1 April 2022, the ship will have emerged from an extensive period in drydock. The debut of Nautica and re-start of Regatta heralds the completion of the US$100 million plus OceaniaNEXT rebuild of the brand’s four 684-guest Regatta Class ships and the brand’s full return to service, with all six ships sailing once again.

Silversea launched a new travel trade incentive this week and at the same time took the opportunity to re-engage with some 120 agents and brokers at a function in the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour.

With the Learn & Sell Silversea to Win incentive, each new booking wins a bottle of Pommery Champagne.