Cruising Supplement 2011

S01 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _Start_Layout 1 22/07/2011 14:22 Page 1

g n i s i u r C

July 2011

Your one stop guide to all the latest news and developments in Cruising

Produced by

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

S01 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _Start_Layout 1 22/07/2011 14:22 Page 2

E L EGANT R I V E R C RU I S E S

New brochure out now Order yours from BP Tradegate at www.tradegate.co.uk

For further details contact agency sales on

0800 988 5166 or email agentadmin@titantravel.co.uk IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

S01 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _Start_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:36 Page 3

All About

Cruising V

alue and variety. These are the key words that UK passengers used when asked what are the main reasons why they prefer a cruise over a land-based holiday.

Figures from the Passenger Shipping Association for 2010 show that cruise holidays grew by 6% at a time when the total number of foreign holidays continued to decline.

Brits took a record 1.62 million ocean cruises in 2010 which the PSA forecasts will continue to grow to 1.7m cruise holidays this year.

Value and variety are the key reasons fuelling the increase with two-thirds (66%) of UK passengers citing value for money as the main reason for choosing their last cruise, and nearly a quarter (24%) citing the all-inclusivity of cruise pricing.

However, at the other end of the scale, the ultra-luxury cruise sector grew by a further 6% in 2010, with cruiselines responding to the economic downturn by including more elements, such as drinks, excursions and gratuities, in the price.

In this All About Cruising supplement, we will look at who the major players are in the luxury arena and what their plans are for 2012.

Another growing sector is river cruising. The river specialists saw an 8% growth last year on 2009 with 134,000 UK passengers opting to cruise the world’s rivers. In this supplement, we focus on the growth in this sector.

Also a key area for the cruising sector is the repeat cruisers.

According to the PSA Cruise Review 2010, four out of 10 UK passengers booked one cruise in the last year, with nearly 60% taking at least two cruises in 2010. We look at what the cruiselines are doing to reward customer loyalty.

Trade relations are also key for cruiselines, so keeping agents up to date on cruiseline developments and rewarding agents who get the cruise bookings with higher commission, fam trips and prizes is essential. We talk to the cruiselines to find out what they have to offer agents keen to help them stay on a growth path.

Tapping into the family market is also a key driver for many of the larger cruiselines, particularly Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney, which launched Disney Dream this year, with Disney Fantasy to follow next year. We hop on board to find out what the cruiselines are offering kids and their parents for 2012.

Finally, spas at sea have really upped their game in recent years, so in this supplement, we find out if it’s possible to get a hot-stone therapy massage and a bit of Botox while cruising the Med. It’s important not to forget how important you are to the cruiselines. Some 79% of cruises were booked through the trade, so make sure you read on through our All About Cruising supplement to ensure you can make a real difference to your client’s holiday experience and boost your earnings at the same time.

Angela Cronin Supplements editor

CONTENTS

4 What’s New 8 Small is Beautiful 13 River Cruising

18 Loyalty Schemes 21 Agent Training 23 Family Values 25 Spa Treatments

Published by

Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661 Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Ranganath GS & Prashanth AP Printed by: Wyndeham Grange Limited Cover Picture: iStock ISSN: 0956-2419

3

S01 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _Start_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:01 Page 4

What’s new

What’s new…

New itineraries, more off-the-beaten track ports, no-fly cruises and overnight stays top the agenda as cruiselines look to 2012 and beyond P&O Cruises P&O Cruises has launched its Winter Holidays brochure for 2013 with 50 new fly-cruise holidays on Adonia, Arcadia, Aurora and Azura.

These exotic cruises are presented in the new programme combined with cruises on three other ships in the P&O Cruises fleet – Oceana, Oriana and Ventura.

The new fly-cruise holidays combine long-haul destinations and lead in at £989 per person for 13 nights based on Azura’s Mumbai to Singapore sailing, calling in at Colombo, Langkawi, Bangkok (from Laem Chabang) and Singapore.

Free on-board spending money, which increases per person depending on the grade of cabin booked, and early-booking savings are available for bookings made before November 30, 2011. In addition, an extra 10% discount is available for bookings made by August 31, 2011.

Highlights of the holidays available include three cruises from 20 to 33 nights on Adonia from Southampton to Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro to Valparaiso; and Valparaiso to Southampton.

Arcadia will sail from Southampton to Buenos Aires, Valparaiso to Sydney and Brisbane to San Francisco.

Aurora will cruise from San Francisco to Auckland, Sydney to Hong Kong and Singapore to Southampton, while Azura voyages include Dubai to Singapore, Mumbai to Sydney and Hong Kong to Cape Town.

Hurtigruten's Nordkapp ship cruising through the Lofoten Islands

4

Thomson Cruises Thomson Cruises is reintroducing ex-UK cruises for summer 2012 on Thomson Spirit.

Based in Newcastle from May to July and Harwich in August and September, Thomson Spirit will sail 15 different ex-UK itineraries, taking in 39 destinations with a selection of three to 14-night cruises. A All about Cruising

S01 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _Start_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:01 Page 5

What’s new new British Isles sailing features for 2012 visiting Guernsey, Dublin, Isle of Man, Isle of Mull, Orkney Islands and Edinburgh with prices starting at £949 per person. Other destinations include the Baltics, Icelandic and Norwegian Fjord regions, alongside a one-off Weekend Affair cruise to Belgium and Holland.

Fred Olsen Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has launched its worldwide cruises for 2012/2013 with a number of new features for 2012/13.

These include: a Christmas Markets cruise on Black Watch, around the Baltics; the chance to sail 50 miles up the Guadalquivir River to Seville, in Spain; a return call to the newly-accessible Banjul Harbour in the Gambia, on Braemar’s 21-night West Africa and Cape Verde cruise; three new

New ships in 2011 Disney Cruise Lines – the 2,500-passenger Disney Dream Oceania – the 1,258-passenger Marina Le Compagnie du Ponant – the 264-passenger L’Austral Carnival Cruise Lines – the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic Seabourn – the 450-passenger Seabourn Quest Costa Cruises – the 3,000-passenger Costa Favolosa Celebrity Cruises – the 2,884-passenger Celebrity Silhouette

destinations on Canada’s east coast, Port Saguenay, Trois Rivières and Havre St. Pierre; Balmoral’s new Around the World itinerary and Black Watch’s cruise, down the west coast of Africa, and into the Indian Ocean; In Search of the Northern Lights, with Boudicca in February 2013; and Christmas 2012, when both Balmoral and Braemar will be visiting the Cape Verde Islands.

NCL Norwegian Cruise Line will have four ships in Europe in 2012, with two sailing year-round. Norwegian Spirit will make its European debut with 12-night Grand Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona and Venice, while Norwegian Sun will continue to sail the Baltics from Copenhagen. Norwegian Jade will sail seven and 14-night Greek Isles from Venice itineraries again.

Norwegian Epic will sail another summer of western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona, but agents now have the option to offer Rome as a second embarkation option. A limited number of staterooms are available from Civitavecchia where guests can begin an alternative seven-night cruise travelling to Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy; Villefranche (Nice), France; Provence (Marseille), France; Barcelona, Spain with a day at sea. Brand new worldwide itineraries include 10 and 11-night southern Caribbean from Miami fly-cruises with stops in Colombia, St Martin, St Lucia and Dominica and a Colonial

JUST TAKE IT BREEZY! NOW ON SALE

INTRODUCING THE BRAND NEW CARNIVAL BREEZE MEDITERRANEAN 2012 SEASON (JUNE – NOV 2012)

PRICES FROM £749* 0DNH D &DUQLYDO % RRNLQJ )LQG D *ROGHQ 7L FNHW :LQ -HOO\ %HDQV (QWHU 3UL]H 'UDZ :LQ D &UXLVH

AGENTS CAN

WIN!!

goodies ticket and win Find a golden o.uk l.c iva rn GoCa by booking on o be in with a als uld co u and yo ival Breeze nning a Carn chance of wi ne 2012.

Ju in o tw for cruise

HERE ARE SOME OF THE GREAT INNOVATIONS ONBOARD CARNIVAL BREEZE: • Waterworks, park with waterslides and splash-tastic play areas!

• Sports Square, open-air complex with a ropes course, mini-golf and fitness area.

• Wraparound promenade with whirlpools extending over the deck.

• Cloud 9 Spa and fitness centre and accommodation ranging from value family cabins to spacious suites.

TO DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Visit GoCarnival.co.uk

TO BOOK CARNIVAL BREEZE Visit GoCarnival.co.uk for Carnival Breeze itineraries and early saver fares. *Lead in fares are shown cruise only basis. Fly cruise fares available.

S01 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _Start_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:01 Page 6

What’s new America from Quebec, a 16-night itinerary which visits New York, Baltimore and Portland.

CMV Cruise and Maritime Voyages is featuring a selection of no-fly sailings on Marco Polo and Ocean Countess in its 2012 programme from six British ports including London Tilbury, Hull, Newcastle, Edinburgh Leith, Greenock and Liverpool.

Marco Polo will maintain year-round sailings, while Ocean Countess will operate summer-only cruises from April to October. CMV’s programme features cruises from six British ports including London Tilbury, Hull, Newcastle, Edinburgh Leith, Greenock and Liverpool.

The winter 2011/12 and summer 2012 programme includes cruises around the Amazon and West Indies, the Land of the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun, the Norwegian Fjords, the Baltics and Russia, Iceland and Northern Isles, the Mediterranean and Canary Islands and Round Britain and Ireland cruises.

New for 2012 will be Britain’s Maritime Heritage, tracing ocean liner history 100 years since the sailing of Titanic, and a choice of celebrations at sea to mark the occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Fares start at £399 per person for a six night cruise to the Norwegian fjords.

All-inclusive options will be available on Crystal Serenity

Hurtigruten The Norwegian cruiseline has added a number of new sailings on Fram for 2012 These include: National Park Expedition, a 14-night voyage that takes in the three Arctic islands of Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland. The cruise departs on 6 September and prices lead in at £4,535 per person full board, cruise only.

Also new is a 19-day voyage, which will be the main leg of Fram’s winter repositioning journey from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands to Buenos Aires.

Prices from £1,292 per person full board, cruise only.

The operator has also doubled the number of departures on its most popular Antarctica voyage, the Classic Expedition with six departures scheduled.

Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean will be deploying Voyager of the Seas in Shanghai, China, in June 2012.

The ship will offer a number of itineraries, ranging from four nights to 10 nights and will sail to a wide variety of ports in Japan and Korea until August, The ship will depart for Sydney, Australia in October.

The cruiseline will have 12 ships based in Europe for summer 2012 with new ports of call including Tunis (Tunisia), Thorshavn (Faroe Islands), Lerwick (Shetland, Scotland) and Aartus (Denmark) along with new itineraries in Dubai and the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Serenade of the Seas will replace Brilliance of the Seas in Dubai with 17 sailings, departing every Monday on seven-night United Arab Emirates and Oman itineraries between December 2012 and April 2013.

Thirteen Royal Caribbean ships will sail the Caribbean during the 2012-13 season, with six additional ships offering four to 12-night Caribbean itineraries in winter 2012-13.

Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Cruises will offer its first ever Asia season in winter 2012-2013 on Celebrity Millennium.

The ship will visit nine countries for the first time, including Vietnam, Thailand and China during the winter of 2012-13.

Itineraries will consist of a series of 14night open-jaw cruises between Singapore and Hong Kong and includes overnight stays in Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay and Hong Kong.

Summer 2012 will see five Celebrity Cruises ships in Europe, including the new Celebrity Silhouette, which has been based in Rome from this month, and Celebrity Eclipse based in Southampton for the third consecutive year. New itineraries include: 12-night Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Isles, Adriatic and Italy and Croatia sailings onboard Celebrity Silhouette; 14-night Canaries and Azores and Iceland and Fjords and eightnight Norwegian Fjords sailings on board Celebrity Eclipse.

The 2012-2013 season will also see eight Celebrity Cruise ships deployed in the Caribbean with new itineraries including: seven-night eastern Caribbean cruises from Miami on Celebrity Reflection; seven-night eastern Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale on Celebrity Silhouette featuring calls at Cozumel (Mexico) and Falmouth (Jamaica).

Three ships will be operating itineraries in Alaska with a new seven-night Alaska round-trip cruise onboard Celebrity Infinity available.

Carnival Texas is expecting 110,000 additional visitors to the state this winter following Carnival Cruise Lines plans to new ship Carnival Magic in the Texan port of Galveston from 14 November for Caribbean voyages.

Carnival Triumph will relocate from New Orleans to Galveston from

New ships in 2012 Disney Cruises – the 2,500-passenger Disney Fantasy is due to launch on March 31 Oceania Cruises – the 1,260-passenger Riviera is due to launch in April MSC Cruises – the 3,478-passenger MSC Divina is due to launch in May Costa Cruises – the 3,000-passenger Costa Fascinosa is due to launch in spring Carnival – the 3,690-passenger Carnival Breeze is due to launch in June Celebrity Cruises – the 3,030-passenger Celebrity Reflection is due to launch on October 12 6

All about Cruising

S01 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _Start_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:01 Page 7

What’s new 6 October, offering four or five-day cruises around the Caribbean.

Seven-night cruises to the western Caribbean, departing from Galveston Island on Carnival Magic lead in at £399 per person for the cruise only.

Azamara Club Cruises The luxury cruise line is adding a number of new itineraries to tie in with festivals and events around the world in 2012.

These include the 12-night Chelsea Flower Show voyage, departing 17 May. This begins with an overnight in Amsterdam and features first-time calls at Flushing (Vlissingen), the Netherlands, and Southampton, England; and stays for two nights in Antwerp, Paris, and London (Greenwich), offering guests the opportunity to attend the annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Also new is the 6 July Skagen and Hague Jazz sailing, which begins with an overnight in Copenhagen and concludes with an overnight in Amsterdam, and features a maiden call at Skagen, Denmark, and two-night stays in London (Greenwich) and Rotterdam, the Netherlands (also a maiden port), where guests can attend the North Seas Jazz Festival.

An Extended Voyages’ concept has also been rolled out which will allow guests to join two, three, four or more consecutive cruises into one experience.

Crystal Cruises The US ultra-luxury cruiseline is offering free return flights on all sailings with an all-inclusive option on all cruises on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.

This will include free fine wines and premium spirits in all restaurants, open bar service in all lounges and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff.

Also new for 2012 are: 94-night Epic Islands and Empires’ Pacific Rim World Cruise through Hawaii, the South Pacific, eastern and western Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Russia, Alaska, British Columbia and San Francisco; Christmas/New Year cruises in Australia/New Zealand and the Mediterranean; expanded collection of Mediterranean, Baltic and Northern European cruises; and more overnight stays in destinations including Ashdod, Reykjavik, Odessa, Honfleur, Hamburg, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Istanbul, Venice, Sorrento and Bordeaux as well as destinations throughout Asia, Australia and South America.

Prices start at £2,336 per person based on a seven-night cruise from Barcelona to Rome departing 8 April.

Great Rail Journeys The escorted rail and cruise specialist has launched its Cruising by Rail 2011-2012 brochure featuring five new river and ocean cruising holidays by rail from a total of 26 tours.

The five new tours include the nine-day Scottish Highlands and Inner Hebrides voyage; the seven-day Seine and Fontainebleau cruise; the eight-day Royal Crown Rhine Cruise; the 11-day Jewels of the Eastern Mediterranean tour; the 15-day Highlights of the Mediterranean sailing.

Prices for the brochure lead in at £620 per person for a fiveday Rhineland Markets Cruise. ■

The H2O Zone Waterpark on the Oasis of the Seas.

All about Cruising

7

S02 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ SIB_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:05 Page 8

Small is Beautiful

Small but beautiful Champagne and Caviar in the surf with Seabourn

Despite all the economic odds, the luxury sector is bucking the trend and showing year-on-year growth. What’s its secret?

W

ith household budgets being squeezed, holiday spend has taken a hit as many Brits are forced to prioritise what they spend their money on this year.

While other parts of the travel industry have seen demand drop off, it seems cruising is more popular than ever, and in particular, the ultra luxury cruise sector, which saw growth of 6% in 2010. The cruiselines have responded to the economic downturn by including more elements, such as drinks, excursions and 8

gratuities, in the price and offering shorter cruises to lower their lead-in prices.

Claire Hancer, UK sales director for boutique cruiseline Compagnie du Ponant, says the recession has presented huge opportunities for the ultra-luxury market.

“The over-55s market are the target market for luxury cruiselines. They usually have money to spend and with the recession keeping down interest rates, their savings are not growing, so they are opting to spend them on cruises.

“When it comes to price, they want value not massive discounting that devalues the product,” she adds.

Andy Harmer, director of sales and marketing at the Cruise Portfolio, agrees.

“What we’ve noticed is that clients are increasingly looking for a value message.

This doesn’t have to be a lower price but the proposition should demonstrate added value of some kind.”

Ian Buckeridge, UK director for Seadream Yacht Club, says price is not a big factor for their clients.

All about Cruising

S02 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ SIB_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:06 Page 9

S02 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ SIB_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:06 Page 10

Small is Beautiful “People do not buy us on price. Once people cruise with us, they tend to stick with us because they want contemporary, unstructured cruising.”

Both Buckeridge and Hancer agree that the rising cost of fuel is likely to have an impact on the industry in the very near future.

“Increasing fuel prices are likely to lead to more ships overnighting in ports,” says Hancer.

Buckeridge pointed out that there is likely to be less ex-UK cruises and more point-to-point voyages.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the luxury liners and what they have to offer.

Hebridean Island Cruises The ships: only one, Hebridean Princess, which was originally built as a car ferry in the 1966. It was transformed into a cruise ship in 1989 after a massive refurbishment. In 2006, its fame soared when the Queen, having retired the Royal Yacht Britannia, chartered it for her 80th birthday.

10

How many passengers? Just 50 guests, with a crew of 38. The ship has 30 cabins, 10 designed especially for single travellers.

What’s its unique selling point?

Hebridean Princess is designed to have more of a country-house hotel feel than a cruise ship and can slip easily into small inlets and remote ports inaccessible for larger vessels.

Where does it cruise? Mostly around Scotland’s west coast, St Kilda and the Orkney and Shetland Isles with cruises from four to 10 nights, which mainly depart from Oban.

Swan Hellenic The ships: only one, Minerva. Swan Hellenic took delivery of the ship in 1997

Selling tips Claire Hancer, UK sales director, Compagnie du Ponant: “The ships are smaller and can access more off-the-beaten track ports.”

“High crew to passenger ratio.”

“Spend full days in ports and often don’t leave until at least 10pm, with overnight stays also an option.” and it underwent its most recent hotelstyle refurbishment in 2008.

How many passengers? Just 350 with a crew of 160.

What’s its USP? Like Hebridean Princess, Minerva is also styled on a countryhouse hotel. Its cruises are destination intensive with guest speakers and a tailor-made programme of shore excursions.

Where does it cruise? Minerva operates on a number of themed cruises from the Treasures of the British Isles, planned in association with the National Trust, to the Byzantine Legacy that takes in Venice, Pompeii, Dubrovnik and Split.

All about Cruising

S02 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ SIB_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:06 Page 11

Small is Beautiful Voyages of Discovery The ships: just the one, Discovery, which underwent an extensive refurbishment between 2001 and 2003.

How many passengers? 650 passengers.

What’s its USP? It claims to offer a home from home – not a casino in sight. It also visits the smaller off-the-beaten-track destinations, stays in ports longer, so guests have more time to explore and all gratuities and service charges are included.

Where does it cruise? It has 25 new ports for 2012, including Szczecin in Poland, Bodø in Norway, Pula in Croatia, Itea in Greece and Kotor in Montenegro.

Highlights of the new summer 2012 season include: a strong focus on the Baltic, the 11-day Heritage of the British Isles, which will visit Greenwich for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations; Footloose Nordic Natural Wonder cruise, which involves specialist hikes for keen walkers; and flycruise Adriatic and Aegean Odyssey concentrates on the Mediterranean.

Azamara The ships: two, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest.

How many passengers? Both carry 694 passengers with 408 crew.

What’s its USP? The ultra-luxury sister cruiseline of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, Azamara’s two ships pride themselves on offering an intimate, exclusive on-board experience complemented by the boutique nature of the ships which allows the cruiseline to access the less-visited ports that more experienced travellers crave to see. The ships also spend two to three nights in ports, giving guests the chance to really experience the destinations. It ties in its cruises with events happening in selected destination such as the Rio Carnival, the Monte Carlo Grand Prix and new for 2012, the Royal Chelsea Flower Show. In April 2010, on-board stateroom attendants underwent English butler training to offer butler service to all suite guests.

Where do the ships cruise? Azamara Journey starts off 2012 in South America before heading to the Caribbean, then crossing the Atlantic for cruises of the British Isles, the French and Italian Rivieras, the Norwegian fjords and the Baltics, Israel and Egypt and India and Sri Lanka. Azamara Quest will be based in Vietnam and Thailand before heading off to Japan and Taiwan, Mumbai, Egypt, Greece, Italy and Monaco, Croatia, Sicily

and the Amalfi Coast, the Greek Isles, Sicily and Malta, Rome to Seville, then across the Atlantic to the West Indies and Brazil.

Regent Seven Seas The ships: Regent has three ships.

How many passengers? Seven Seas Navigator carries 490 passengers and 345 crew; Seven Seas Mariner takes 700 guests and 445 crew; Seven Seas Voyager carries 700 passengers and 447 crew.

What’s its USP? Regents says it offers a completely all-inclusive experience; flights, transfers, shore excursions, fine dining including speciality restaurants, all drinks and beverages, all gratuities and all on-board activities. Seven Seas Voyager and Mariner are all-suite, all-balcony ships, while Seven Seas Navigator has 90% balcony suites. Due to their size, each ship is able to visit the smaller ports.

Where do the ships cruise? Highlights of the 2012 itineraries include: Seven Seas Voyager will sail 11 itineraries across the Mediterranean and 12 voyages around northern Europe, including a roundBritain cruise encompassing the North Cape. The line is also offering a new combination of three sailings

Compagnie Du Ponant's ship Le Levant

All about Cruising

11

S02 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ SIB_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:06 Page 12

Small is Beautiful providing guests with either a 10, 22 or 29-night sailing between Southampton and Stockholm where they can enjoy overnights in Reykjavik, Oslo and St Petersburg. Seven Seas Mariner calls in at eastern and western Mediterranean ports with a series of seven, 10, 14 and 16-night itineraries, many of which including overnights in Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Istanbul, Tel Aviv and Venice.

Seven Seas Navigator explores Alaska before sailing from San Francisco through the Panama Canal to New York. The cruiseline is also offering guests the opportunity to Build Your Own Cruise on board Seven Seas Voyager across Asia, Australia and Europe.

Seadream The ships: SeaDream I and II are identical, twin mega yachts.

How many passengers? They carry 112 passengers, with 95 crew, which is a 1:1 crew to passenger ratio.

What’s its USP? It’s yachting, not cruising, which Seadream says delivers “casual perfection with five-star service inclusive”. The spas on board are the only

members at sea of the prestigious Thai Spa Association. On the top deck, guests can sleep under the stars on the Balinese Dream Beds.

Where do the ships cruise? For 2012, SeaDream I and SeaDream II will be spending May to October in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea along with a number of Croatia and Greek Island voyages. Between November and April, they will be based in the Caribbean, with voyages to the Amazon from Barbados to Iquitos, Peru planned.

Compagnie du Ponant The ships: the three-masted sailing Le Ponant accommodates 64 passengers; Le Levant carries 90 passengers; the larger Le Diamant carries 226 passengers; Le Boreal and sister ship L’Austral can both accommodate 264.

What’s its USP? Compagnie Du Ponant prides itself on offering the art of elegant yacht cruises, combining a sophisticated à la Française lifestyle on board with exploration and discovery. It offers guests the chance to reach secret ports only accessible to small capacity vessels

Orion Expeditions in Hayman Island

12

Selling tips Ian Buckeridge, UK director, Seadream: “Contemporary, unstructured cruising – no formalities, much more laidback.”

“Set sail from ports between 10pm and 3am in the morning, allowing guests the chance to dine in ports.”

“As Seadream ships are smaller, we can often drop anchor in smaller bays, particularly in the Caribbean, allowing guests the chance to make the most of our jet skis, banana boats, kayaks, etc.” and claims that reducing the impact on the environment is a priority, by cruising under sail on board Le Ponant, or using eco-friendly hull coatings.

Where do the ships cruise? Early 2012 voyage itineraries include both L’Austral and Le Boreal heading to Antarctica; Le Diamant will be in Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore; Le Ponant will operate itineraries in South India and the Maldives; and Le Levant in central, South America and the Caribbean.

Orion The ships: Orion I and II. How many passengers? Orion I can carry 106 passengers, with 75 crew. The ship has 53 staterooms. Orion II can take up to 100 passengers with 70 crew. The ship has 50 suites.

What’s its USP? Founded in early 2004, Orion Expedition Cruises has developed voyages to encourage guests to become a part of the region they are discovering. The destinations visited by Orion are sensitive wilderness areas, with little or no infrastructure to support visits by hundreds of people at one time, so the cruiseline prides itself on its record of social responsibility to develop a marine tourism blueprint that is sustainable.

Where do the ships cruise? Orion cruises in the Kimberley region of Australia, the Australian Islands, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the Sub Antarctic, Melanesia, the Spice and Forgotten Islands and Antarctica. Orion II visits Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Indonesian archipelago, Borneo, the Inland Sea of Japan and the Russian Far East. ■ All about Cruising

S03 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ River Cruises_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:09 Page 13

River cruising

Avalon Panorama launched in May

Surging ahead The future looks bright for river cruising as clients who have sailed the seas look for alternatives to the big liners

W

ith new ships coming online at an impressive rate and demand for cruises rocketing, there is no question that while river cruising may still be classed as the new kid on the block, it is without doubt here to stay.

Figures from the Passenger Shipping Association shows that nearly 134,000 UK passengers went on a river cruise last year, up 8% on 2009.

The surge in river bookings is almost entirely due to the increasing popularity of European river cruises, up from 56,100 in 2009 to 66,600 in 2010. The number of passengers taking a Rhine cruise rose by nearly 24% to 22,500 last year, while demand for Douro river cruises in Portugal rose by more than 80% to 8,600 UK passengers.

To help agents capitalise on the growing demand for river cruises, the Association of Cruise Experts is holding its first River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam on November 20-21, which will include visits to vessels operated by AMA Waterways, APT, Titan HiTours Elegant River Cruises and Shearings.

Agents will stay on the ships on Sunday night and will be provided with specialist

All about Cruising

river cruise and destination training together with a boat trip of Amsterdam’s canals.

So with river cruise companies promising to support agents keen to sell river voyages and a number of new ships and worldwide itineraries coming on line for 2012, let’s have a look at what the cruise companies have planned for next year.

AmaWaterways What’s new? AmaWaterways is launching the AmaLotus in September, which will join AmaWaterways’ first Mekong vessel, La Marguerite, to sail the Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong itinerary. The ship features all-outside accommodation with 90% of staterooms having a private outside balcony and the on-board restaurant will serve Asian and Western specialities as well as an authentic Vietnamese ‘Lau’ (Hot Pot) dining facility. In addition, there is a lounge, gift shop, spa, sun deck, fitness room and sauna. AmaLotus will sail seven-night Mekong river cruises from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with prices starting at £1,224 per person, including all meals on

the ship, port charges, all shore excursions, and wine, beer and soft drinks with dinner. Flights are extra. A 15-night land-cruise itinerary starts at £2,442 per person and includes two nights in Hanoi, an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay, three nights in Siem Reap, the seven-night Mekong cruise and a two-night stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile, the 164-passenger AmaCerto will debut in Europe, which AmaWaterways says will pioneer new developments in river cruising. Some of the vessel’s staterooms will feature two balconies, while facilities will include a heated swimming pool, multiple fine dining venues, more deck space that will accommodate a giant chess board, heated pool, whirlpools and a walking track. With a look and feel inspired by classic ocean yachts, AmaCerto will sail on the Mosel, Rhine, Main and Danube in 2012. A seven-night cruise departing on April 12 costs from £1591, including full board, all excursions, internet access, wine with dinner, evening entertainment, use of the ship’s fleet of bicycles in port and port charges. Flights are extra, Agent relations: AmaWaterways has devised a new four-part agent training 13

S03 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ River Cruises_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:09 Page 14

European River Cruises March - December 2012

Why choose an Avalon Cruise…

Included exclusive private door-to-door transfer service within 75 miles of airport/station

Youngest fleet on Europe’s rivers, with an average age of just two years

New ‘suite ships’ launching in 2012, Avalon Vista and Avalon Visionary

Luxury river cruising in modern and contemporary designed ships

Included gratuities for the Cruise Director and crew plus free Wi-Fi

2012 ON SALE NOW To request your 2012 brochure go to www.trade-gate.co.uk or visit us at www.avaloncruises.co.uk

S03 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ River Cruises_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:09 Page 15

River cruising programme, which is available as a printed manual as well as being hosted on the online ACE Cruise Academy. This will allow ACE travel agent members to achieve accreditations towards their ACE profile.

To find out more: amawaterways.co.uk Viking River Cruises What’s new? Viking has been busy over the last few years drawing up plans for the launch of a number of new ships.

Viking Prestige, which launched this year, represents the first European ship in a series of 10 new builds to follow for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons. Cruising the Rhine and the Danube, the 188-passenger Viking Prestige has all-outside staterooms and French balconies on both the upper and middle decks, a single-seating restaurant, observation lounge and bar, and library as well as an expansive sun deck. The vessel has the same hybrid propulsion system as Viking Legend, producing less vibration and using significantly less fuel.

On the cruises front, new for 2012 is the 12-day Footsteps of the Cossacks, which will sail along the Ukraine’s Dnieper River visiting Kiev, Yalta, Odessa, Sevastopol and Zaporozhye. Prices start at £1,895 per person.

Viking is also offering a new three-night post extension to Transylvania and the Black Sea which is available to customers on the Passage to Eastern Europe trip.

Agent relations: Viking River Cruises has a full agent training course online which covers topics such as the Viking product, selling tips, rivers and destinations and life onboard. It takes around 30 to 40 minutes to complete. Once the agent finishes the modules with a 100% pass mark, they are issued with a certificate.

The first 50 agents who successfully complete the course before August 31 will receive a prize.

To find out more: onlinetraveltraining.co.uk Amadeus What’s new? Amadeus Brilliant, launched in April, is the brand new flagship addition to the Amadeus fleet. With a total of four decks each named after classical composers, the ship has 67 cabins and nine additional suites, all with en-suite shower facilities, most of which

All about Cruising

Cruise and stay Shearings is offering customers on their most popular river cruises to extend their stays in a range of destinations.

The packages range from a two-night stay in some European cities – including Amsterdam, Paris and Munich – to seven nights in Egypt and Croatia.

Patricia Birmingham, Europe and Worldwide holidays manager, said: “The option to extend their visit is perfect for customers looking to make the most of their time away and enjoy two holidays in one, for not much more cost.

“More than 10% of our passengers have opted for cruise and stay breaks this year.

In particular, the option to extend our Nile cruise has been extremely popular among customers and we plan to offer more similar options next year.”

The Cruise and Stay option on Shearings’ eight-day Nile cruise on the five-star Viking Princess means customers can extend their stay in Luxor, Cairo or El Gouna with a choice of three, four or seven nights. Prices start at £169. offer a French balcony. Other facilites include a spacious sun deck with sun loungers, an international restaurant and a lounge bar.

Cruises include the 13-day Best of Europe, which departs from Nuremberg

on October 8 and goes through the Rhine-Main-Danube canal and then downstream along the Danube to Budapest, taking in Berlin, Potsdam, Dresden, Prague, Vienna. Prices lead in at £2,525 per person.

AmaKatarina cruises between Moscow and St Petersburg

15

S03 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ River Cruises_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:09 Page 16

River cruising Meanwhile, the Vienna, Black Sea and Bucharest voyage follows in the footsteps of the Hapsburgs dynasty. It departs on September 7 and prices lead in at £1,699 per person.

To find out more: ewaterways.co.uk Avalon Waterways What’s new? Since 2006, Avalon has launched nine new river cruise vessels with the latest one, Avalon Panorama, launched in May this year and two more planned for next year, Avalon Visionary and Avalon Vista. Avalon Panorama is the industry’s first all-suite ship featuring the 11ft wall-to-wall panoramic windows that open to create ‘open-air balconies’, as well as king-sized beds facing the windows, full-sized bathrooms and upgrades and enhancements throughout.

New for next year, royal suite guests will have access to in-room Apple iPads. Also new is the inclusion of on-board gratuities within the holiday price.

Avalon Vista will sail on the 11-day Legendary Danube with prices from £2,199 per person, the 13-day Blue Danube

Discovery with prices from £2,445 per person and the 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise with prices from £2,749 per person.

Avalon Visionary will be sailing the eightday Romantic Rhine with prices from £1,665 per person.

The 2012 programme features 36 river cruise itineraries with prices starting at £999 for A Taste of the Danube to the 19day Danube and Black Sea Coast cruise from £3,379 per person. Festive cruises to Europe’s Christmas markets have been added with four itineraries to choose from in December. Prices lead in at £1,099 per person.

Newly introduced themed cruises include several departures with lectures on European history and politics as well as Jewish heritage.

Wedding vow renewal packages on board are also new for next year.

Agent relations: Avalon Waterways offers online travel training modules, which aim to give agents the confidence to become a river cruising expert. Avalon Waterways is also taking part in the ACE Cruise Expos for the first time in Liverpool, Portsmouth and Edinburgh where the Avalon sales team will be on hand to provide agents with an update on new ships, new itineraries and earlybooking offers for 2012.

To find out more: avalonwaterways.com Swan Hellenic What’s new? Swan Hellenic’s charters AROSA’s fleet of river cruisers is to offer a summer-time river cruise programme which feature spacious sun decks, health spa, gym and sauna, with many

Ace River Cruise Expo Ace is holding its first River Cruise Expo and there are places still available.

When? November 20-21 Where? Amsterdam Who is going? AMA Waterways, APT, Titan HiTours Elegant River Cruises and Shearings Find out more: www.cruiseexperts.org cabins enjoying a private Juliette balcony.

It has launched its new 2012 river cruises which includes a programme doubled in size and a new itinerary cruising the eightday Moselle and Rhine Valley and with more no-fly options in the shape of rail options available from London on all sailings for the Rhône and the Rhine 2012 cruises.

Other new additions include a selection of eight-day cruises on the Rhône in May, June and September beginning and ending in Lyon with prices from £1,725 per person.

An eight-day cruise on the Danube visits towns and cities in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary with prices from £1,525 per person, while the Discover Baroque voyage is an eight-day cruise on the Rhine beginning and ending in Cologne with visits to Mainz, Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach and Mannheim.

Prices start at £1,725 per person.

Agent relations: Swan Hellenic offers agents the chance to improve their knowledge of the cruiseline by looking at online video training at discoverycruisingexpert.com To find out more: discoverycruisingexpert.com

Viking Legend in Cologne

16

All about Cruising

S03 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ River Cruises_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:09 Page 17

S03 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ River Cruises_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:09 Page 18

Loyalty Schemes

The L factor Exclusive cocktail parties with the captain, on-board credit and discounts on future cruises are just a handful of benefits for members of cruiselines’ loyalty programmes

W

hen it comes to rewarding customer loyalty, the cruiselines are really tuned into valuing their customers, keeping loyal to their brand and cruising with them year after year.

The majority of cruiselines operate guest loyalty programmes, with customers spending the most nights on board earning the most points. Some schemes are bookable through the trade so it’s essential for agents keen to capitalise on their cruise business to know about what is available.

Passenger feedback prompted P&O Cruises to introduce a new loyalty scheme back in April called, the P&O Cruises Peninsular Club, replacing its previous scheme, the Portunus Club.

The new club has six tiers – Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Baltic and Ligurian – which are inspired by the oceans and seas of the world and have been arranged in order of size with the smallest in the club being Ligurian.

Passengers earn points for every night spent on board a P&O ship. The Baltic and Ligurian tiers will be exclusive to the most loyal passengers who have a total points value of more than 2,500. Entry to these tiers is not only reliant on points but also on a requirement for the passenger to have spent more than 80

18

nights on board any P&O Cruises ship within the three years prior to the start of their cruise.

Benefits of the club include an on-board discount ranging from 5%-10%, a complimentary celebratory drink as the ship sets sail, a pressing service and discounted laundry as well as early embarkation, an exclusive travel insurance offer, early-booking deals and early cabin access.

Royal Caribbean International changed its Crown and Anchor Society guest loyalty programme at the start of this year. The updates included the introduction of cruise points, creating a new way to earn membership status; two new member tiers, which include additional benefits; and a more personalised member section on the website.

The new system to earn tier status when sailing with Royal Caribbean is based on one cruise point for every night spent on board one of the cruiseline’s ships.

The two new levels include Emerald tier, between the current Platinum and Diamond status levels, and Pinnacle Club, the new top tier.

Benefits of the Crown and Anchor Society include the chance for customers to book their next Royal Caribbean cruise on board and enjoy $200 on-board credit.

All about Cruising

S03 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ River Cruises_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:09 Page 19

Loyalty Schemes Celebrity Cruises’ Captain Club membership falls into one of three levels: Classic Level (after first completed cruise), Select Level (after earning five cruise credits) and Elite Level (after earning 10 cruise credits).

Benefits range from pre-sailing speciality restaurant reservations available before guests cruise to invitation to the exclusive senior officer’s cocktail party to 90 complimentary internet minutes.

Sister cruiseline, the ultra-luxury Azamara Club Cruises launched Le Club Voyage last year, a new loyalty programme for Azamara past guests following the joint partnership with Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club scheme. With the membership in Le Club Voyage comes a host of exclusive benefits ranging from a bottle of champagne on arrival, one complimentary bag of laundry washed, dried and pressed per week and 237 minutes of free internet per cruise.

Hurtigruten has signed up 2,750 UK members since it introduced its loyalty programme in September 2010.

Benefits include: a 10% repeat customer bonus on a Norwegian coastal voyage with at least three consecutive nights on board; 5% repeat customer bonus on the next Explorer Voyage; a free visit to meet the captain on the bridge and three days of free bicycle hire per round trip.

Kathryn Beadle, managing director at Hurtigruten, says “the aim of the scheme is to drive more repeat business, especially

through agents. I believe our type of customer relishes having a vehicle that recognises their importance to us. We continue to work closely with the trade to develop this scheme with all of our newsletters and communications driving customers back to their travel agent.”

Membership of Crystal Cruises Society begins upon completion of a guest’s first full-fare cruise on board Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity. Benefits entitle them to members-only savings and offers such as stateroom upgrades, on-board spending credits, complimentary cruises, special events and receptions and dedicated Society voyages. The more a guest travels with Crystal, the more rewards they can earn.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s loyalty scheme Latitude has a tiered membership structure from bronze to platinum, with every cruise booked contributing towards membership status and bringing additional rewards. Benefits range from members-only cocktail parties, priority restaurant reservations, priority check-in, exclusive behind-the-scenes ship tours, complimentary dinner and priority disembarkation.

For 2012/13, the Latitude scheme will offer on-board credit of up to $150 for members who book new European and Caribbean cruises of seven nights or more from Miami in an oceanview stateroom or higher.

Claire Riches, head of marketing, NCL, says, “Agents are at

No fly cruising holidays from SIX British Ports London Tilbury, Newcastle, Leith, Hull, Liverpool & Greenock Winter Voyages 2011/12 Wonderful Marco Polo voyages from London Tilbury to the Amazon, West Indies & Azores, Land of the Northern Lights, Christmas & New Year Canaries and delightful Christmas Markets.

Two nights Christmas Markets from

£129

pp

SUMMERTIME CRUISES 2011/12 Cruise to the Norwegian Fjords, Baltic Cities & St. Petersburg, British Isles, Iceland, North Cape & Land of the Midnight Sun, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Azores & Madeira, Scandinavian Cities. eight nights easter cruise from only £599pp

Reservations 0844 414 6161 Agency Sales 0844 414 6140

Book online at www.cruiseandmaritime.com For your password, please call Agency Sales on 0844 414 6140 Brochure supplies: www.trade-gate.co.uk OPEN MONDAY - THURSDAY 9AM - 8PM, FRIDAY 9AM - 6PM, SATURDAY 9AM - 5PM & SUNDAY 10AM - 4PM Prices are per person based on two adults sharing a twin cabin. Subject to availability. Terms & Conditions apply. *Book by 30th September 2011.

Offered for sale in the UK by South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd trading as Cruise & Maritime Voyages. ABTA V9945 ATOL 4619.

S03 TB Cruising Supp 2011 _ River Cruises_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:10 Page 20

Loyalty Schemes the heart of NCL’s offering and we value their work, so we make sure our loyalty scheme is geared towards rewarding both passengers and travel partners. The Cruise Reward system encourages passengers to book via their travel partner rather than directly onboard, meaning the agent won’t miss out on commission from repeat bookings.”

Fred Olsen operates a loyalty programme called Oceans.

Sales manager Lol Nichols says while there is no benefit specifically for agents, they can benefit from the high level of repeat business that the cruiseline generates if they can retain the customer themselves. “It makes sense for agents to contact their customers once they have returned from holiday promoting their services and many already send ‘welcome home’ letters. Travel agents can also promote the 5% discount that we give to Oceans members within their promotional and marketing activity which helps to encourage customers to book their next cruise and helps the agent to retain the customer.”

Princess Cruises operates a three-tiered loyalty scheme: Gold, Platinum and Elite. Benefits range from exclusive

members-only benefits on board to complimentary internet cafe packages of up to $200 and upgraded stateroom amenities.

Luxury cruiseline Silversea’s Venetian Society offers rewards to guests after their first Silversea voyage, which include up to 5% additional savings on select voyages, complimentary laundry service on board and a complimentary seven-day voyage in a veranda suite for guests who reach the 100-cruise day milestone.

River cruise companies are also getting in on the act.

Viking offers a number of loyalty schemes to their customers including the Explorer Society with invitations to exclusive events across the country.

Membership benefits include on-board credit and invitations to members-only cocktail parties.

Meanwhile, rival cruise company Avalon Journeys Club offers a range of benefits including fruit and flowers on arrival and £100 on-board credit as well as special offers from selected partners such as discounted magazine subscriptions and wine club offers. ■

Benefits of P&O's Peninsular Club include early-booking offers

20

All about Cruising

S04 TB Cruising Supp 2011_AT_FV_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:11 Page 21

Agent training

Easy as A, B, C… Whether you are a first-timer or an old hand, there is plenty of support when it comes to training, ship visits and educationals from the cruiselines

W

hile the majority of people use the internet to book some parts of their holiday experience, cruising is still a product that customers turn to agents for when it comes to finding the right cruiseline.

Hence, the Passenger Shipping Association’s 2010 report showed that 79% of cruise bookings last year were made by high Street travel agents.

The cruiselines know how valuable agents are to them and for this very reason, they invest a lot of money in training and support networks to help the trade sell the right cruise to the right client.

With this in mind, let’s have a look at

what some of the cruiselines are doing on the training front.

Norwegian Cruise Line The training – online: NCLU was launched in 2009 and currently has over 5,000 students registered. The agent training site combines on and offline learning. Online, agents complete bitesized modules. To date, nine courses have been launched including ‘destinations’, ‘family cruising’ and accommodation. A number of smaller electives have also been launched.

The training – offline: NCLU runs PHD@sea which is a ship visit combined with learning. The PHD@sea programme

Silversea offers agents Sell to Sail incentives

All about Cruising

usually rewards NCLU students achieving 350,000 points on the website and making 10 bookings over a specified sixmonth period. Agents get to go behind the scenes on a ship, meet some of the onboard leadership team and take part in group learning. The NCLU programme also offer top performers the chance to get on board experience. Last year, a number of top performing NCLU students were invited to the launch of Norwegian Epic.

How do I find out about it? Log on to www.nclu.co.uk Crystal Cruises The training – online: discoverycrystal.co.uk is a onestop shop for online training, news and offers, including online training, customised point of sale, roadshow events, tailor-made direct mail and other marketing solutions.

Crystal is a member of the PSA and ACE and offers online training through ACE website.

Crystal is also a member of the Leading Cruise Agents of the UK. The training – offline: agents can visit Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony when they are in UK ports. The cruiseline also holds two fam trips per year, face to face agency training and roadshows.

Crystal’s recently-launched A Bespoke Campaign is aimed at all travel agents, whether cruise specialists or new to cruising. The cruiseline has also appointed a new business advisor to deal specifically 21

S04 TB Cruising Supp 2011_AT_FV_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:11 Page 22

Agent training with agents new to Crystal and is adjusting its commission levels so that any travel agent booking a new-toCrystal guest on any sailing will receive 2% additional commission. In addition, the booking agent will receive £50 by way of thanks. Crystal is also continuing its popular Sell Three, Sail Free promotion whereby any agent selling three staterooms on any Crystal sailing will receive a free cruise for themselves plus a guest. The cruiseline is also continuing to hold regular gatherings of its Supper Club at a number of venues across the UK, giving agents the opportunity to give feedback to Crystal representatives about the cruiseline and help shape the marketing and development of the cruiseline in the UK. How do I find out about it? Tel: 020 7287 9040 or log on to www.crystalcruises.co.uk Windstar Cruises The training – online: Windstaragents.com is a one-stop shop offering training modules, images, offers and news to agents.

The training – offline: Windstar offers face-to-face training for agencies that request it. The cruiseline has just completed a roadshow from Land’s End

to John O’Groats which incorporated training and meetings.

How do I find out about it? Tel: 0207 292 2369 or register at windstaragents.com Princess Cruises, Cunard and P&O The training – online: Princess, Cunard and P&O share the Academy online training, which can be accessed online via completecruisesolution.com. By the end of this year, the Academy will offer 75 modules on the three cruiselines. As well as modules on each of the cruise lines, training will be available on specialist topics such as world cruises, dining, families, weddings at sea and booking online. The Academy follows the naval tradition of recognising achievement with promotions through the ranks. As agents complete the required courses they will rise from First Officer up to Commodore status on all three brands. Benefits are available to both the individual agent and the agency owner or manager, including enewsletter Academy Insider, ship visits, certificate and pin and marketing kits, containing a press release that the agent can tailor to promote the fact that they are experts at selling cruise. The ultimate reward is a Graduation Cruise, with 700 cruises available each year between the three lines.

Fred Olsen holds a number of ship visits for agents when its ships are in port in the UK

22

How do I find out about it? Log on to completecruisesolution.com.

Fred Olsen The training – online: fredolsencruises.com has a dedicated travel agents’ centre with all the latest news and offers, and the cruise line regularly introduces special booking incentives for agents. The Travel Agents’ centre also features the online Focus on Fred Olsen training programme, a tool consisting of five modules that can be undertaken by agents at their own pace.

The training – offline: Fred Olsen’s sales team offers an annual programme of training days, on board cruise ships in port, as well as tailor-made in-store training and marketing support. The cruiseline also holds ship visits and training days for agents, with three more scheduled for the rest of the year.

These are on 1 September with ship visits available for Boudicca when the ship is in Rosyth (Edinburgh). Also, 27 September for Balmoral in Southampton and 29 September for Braemar in Dover. In addition to the ship visits, Fred Olsen hosts 100 agents on four educational cruises each year.

How do I find out about it? Log on to fredolsencruises.com or call agency sales at 01473 746164.

Silversea The training – online: the Silversea Academy (silverseaacademy.com) consists of eight modules and an optional bonus module on conferences and incentives. Agents signed up to the academy will be entered into a monthly lucky Prize Draw. All agents who make a Silversea booking within two months of completing will be entered into an additional prize draw with prizes up for grabs including an iPod shuffle, Nintendo DSi or digital camera. A yearly grand prize for agents who have completed the training programme includes a free Silversea cruise for two.

The training – offline: the Sell to Sail incentive programme offers agents who make three or more bookings the chance to win a complimentary cruise.

How do I find out about it? Call Silversea Sales Support on 0844 770 9050 or visit silversea.com ■

All about Cruising

S04 TB Cruising Supp 2011_AT_FV_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:11 Page 23

Family values Crystal offers children a broad choice of organised activities and entertainment options.

From tots to teens…

Cruiselines are working hard to prove to the family market that cruising is not just for empty nesters

‘M

ake sure you match the right cruise to the right client’ is the mantra that agents have heard time and again from the management teams at all the cruiselines. Never is this piece of advice more relevant than when it comes to selling a cruise to a family.

While there are a number of cruiselines that offer cruises all over the world, there are only a few that offer plenty of on-board entertainment to keep children entertained and the parents happy.

Norwegian Cruise Line has carved itself a reputation as the cruiseline that offers All about Cruising

a wide variety of kids’ activities and the launch of Norwegian Epic was the icing on the family-sized cake for this cruiseline.

NCL teamed up with kids’ TV channel Nickelodeon last year to offer a programme of family activities based around the channel’s most well-known characters.

The tie-up has led to the introduction of live Nickelodeon-themed interactive shows on board, including SlimeTime LIVE!; breakfast with Nickelodeon characters; Nick Live Poolside entertainment and Nick-themed dance parties.

In addition, special Nickelodeonthemed All Access Cruises are offered annually, allowing families to immerse themselves in all things Nickelodeon all day, every day. Elements include: special appearances by Nickelodeon’s live talent; show premieres; live game shows; and

more opportunities for kids to meet their favourite Nick characters As well as teaming up with Nickelodeon, Norwegian Epic is one of the first cruise ships to have a water park with the only tube slide and largest bowl slide at sea – the Epic Plunge – along with the largest kids’ crew facility at sea.

Norwegian Epic also features an extreme rock climbing wall, abseiling wall, six bowling lanes across two venues; a mixed-use sports deck, ice skating and separate toddlers and teens’ activity areas.

Also big with the family market is Royal Caribbean International, which aims to be competitive on pricing and the variety of activities it offers, particularly on its two ships Independence of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

Great for parents who want to avoid flying with the kids, Independence of the Seas sails in and out of Southampton all 23

S04 TB Cruising Supp 2011_AT_FV_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:11 Page 24

Family values year round and has plenty of activities and clubs.

Facilities include the adventure beach family pool area, H2O zone children’s water park, Johnny Rockets US diner, a video arcade, computer stations, video games, a teens-only nightclub, the Flowrider surf simulator, an on-board iceskating rink, rock climbing wall, basketball and volleyball courts, miniature golf course and shopping.

As well as all of the same facilities as Independence, sister ship Allure of the Seas has a zip-line, two FlowRider surf Disney Dream launched earlier this year with Disney Fantasy to set sail next year

24

simulators, musical Chicago and DreamWorks Animation’s characters including Shrek and Princess Fiona, Madagascar’s Alex and Gloria, Po from Kung-Fu Panda and Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon.

While many ultra-luxury cruiselines don’t factor kids into the cruise equation, Crystal Cruises tries to ensure families get a big bang for their buck.

Select sailings during the school holidays on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity cater for children aged between three and 17, with a Fantasia

playroom, a video arcade for teens, a cinema and a team of junior activities directors who fill the days on-board ships with lots of things for the kids to do.

For the younger children, activities include scavenger hunts, hide and seek, pajama parties, bridge tours, galley tours, cookie baking, pizza making, fashion shows, coke-tails and card games, karaoke, mini Olympics and pool games.

For teenagers, additional activities include late-night pool parties with music, teen disco, Twister and popcorn parties. Babysitting is also available.

Masters of providing magical entertainment for kids of all ages, Disney Cruise Line launched its latest ship, Disney Dream, earlier this year.

Following hot on its heels next year, the 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy will sail week-long Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral and will feature many of the innovative features recently launched on Disney Dream including on-board water coaster AquaDuck.

Disney Fantasy will also feature Animation Magic at Animator’s Palate, a wall-to-wall whimsy inspired by a classic animation studio screened in the restaurant during dinner time.

While guests enjoy dinner, the restaurant’s walls fill with classic Disney and Pixar characters gathering food, eating and drinking together, and celebrating over meals.

The new on-board show at the 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre will be Aladdin, wannabe princesses and pirates will be able to head to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for a full makeover with a variety of royal treatment packages and pirate party nights.

For the adults on board, the Europa Nighttime Entertainment District houses restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

On a smaller scale, Paul Gauguin Cruises runs an Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Programme created by explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Ocean Futures Society.

The programme aims to give young participants direct, hands-on, interactive experience offering the opportunity to explore coral reefs, hike rainforest trails and visit ancient Polynesian temples. This programme is available on all cruises from June through to August and on select holiday cruises for a nominal fee of $269 per child. ■

All about Cruising

S05 TB Cruising Supp 2011_Spa Treatments_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:42 Page 25

Spa treatments

All calm at sea Cruiselines have really upped their game when it comes to helping their guests enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation

L

ong gone are the days when a menu of treatments at on-board spas just involved a few different types of massages, a facial and a manicure.

Teeth whitening, collagen treatments and Botox are the name of the game these days with cruiselines adding to their services to cater for repeat cruisers who want to try out more adventurous types of treatments.

Princess Cruises offers a wide variety of treatments at the Lotus Spas on board their ships. These include GoSMILE Tooth Whitening, acupuncture and procollagen marine facials, which aim to slow the signs of premature aging, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Lotus Spas also offer Botox, Restylane and Perlane Treatments and Ionithermie Cellulite Reduction

Programme along with more traditional therapies such as aroma stone therapies and rejuvenating wraps.

Norwegian Cruise Line rolled out the Mandara Spa on newest ship Norwegian Epic, which features 24 treatment rooms, two private couple’s villas, two exotic steam Rasul rooms, a DIY Scrub Experience, Hydrotherapy Courtyard and Thermal Suite, full-service salon, fitness centre and barber shop.

travel bulletin supplement calendar all about

the Indian Ocean

August 19

All about Luxury

September 30

All about Cyprus

October 28

All about India

December 9

All about Indian Ocean

March 2011

Your ur one stop guide

to all the latest news and developments in the Indian Ocean

Produced by

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

All about Cruising

25

S05 TB Cruising Supp 2011_Spa Treatments_Layout 1 25/07/2011 15:13 Page 26

Spa treatments Norwegian Epic is also the first ship to offer spa suites – 39 in total – deluxe balcony and balcony staterooms, which are accessed via private key-card and offer complimentary access during spa hours to the area surrounding Norwegian Epic’s hydrotherapy courtyard and thermal suite and fitness centre. The eight spa suites feature an in-room whirlpool.

Among the new spa treatments and services introduced on board Norwegian Epic are the signature Epic 24 Karat Gold Facial, which includes a blend of medicinal plants, rose quartz and a pure 24 karat gold leaf mask.

While the kids are busy on climbing walls and FlowRiders, Royal Caribbean’s Vitality at Sea Spa is a welcome retreat for busy mums – and dads.

Treatments include tooth whitening, St Tropez sunless-tanning sessions, Ionithermie cellulite reduction programme, Elemis treatments including tri enzyme resurfacing to improve the smoothness of the skin’s surface, hot and cold aroma stone therapy and Frangipani conditioning hair and scalp treatment.

Acupuncture sessions are available for

26

pain management, weight-loss, stress relief, help to stop smoking and relief from motion and sea sickness.

Botox Cosmetic or Dysport Wrinkle Treatments can also be booked along with Restylane and Perlane dermal filler treatments.

The Generation Y-Spa offers mother and daughter massage sessions, father and son chill-out massages, Fabulously Fruity facial and Magical manicure Sister line Celebrity Cruises has the AquaSpa by Elemis on board all of its ships. Like the Vitality Spas, it offers the 24-carat gold facial treatment and the St Tropez Sunless Tanning, but it also serves up the Brazilian Blowout, a treatment designed to leave hair smooth and frizzfree for up to 12 weeks without the use of harsh chemicals.

For guests keen to keep fit on board, the Body Sculpt Boot Camp is a programme of four specifically designed 45 minute workouts that concentrates on the activation of fast-twitch muscle fibres that are rarely utilised.

Celebrity ships offer guests keen to indulge in the on-board spa the

opportunity to stay in AquaClass veranda staterooms, located near the AquaSpas.

Guests in these rooms enjoy a host of spa-inspired amenities and perks, including unlimited access to the AquaSpa’s Persian Garden aromatherapy steam room and the relaxation room.

At the ultra-luxury end of the cruise market, Silversea has The Spa at Silversea which offers a number of treatments from anti-aging facials and Botox Cosmetic and DYSPORT Wrinkle Treatment to aromatherapy, body wraps, a variety of massages, reflexology, teeth whitening and chocolate treatments.

On-board beauty salons offer a full range of styling services for men and women including manicures and pedicures, while the cruiseline’s wellness programme provides guests with fitness sessions under the watchful eyes of personal trainers, who can help with aerobics, yoga, pilates and circuit training.

These are just a selection of what some of the bigger cruiselines have to offer, but whatever size of ship, spa treatments are available on nearly every cruiseline. ■

All about Cruising

S05 TB Cruising Supp 2011_Spa Treatments_Layout 1 22/07/2011 14:18 Page 27

S05 TB Cruising Supp 2011_Spa Treatments_Layout 1 22/07/2011 14:18 Page 28